South Africa head coach Enoch Nkwe bowed down to the class of Virat Kohli after the Indian skipper scored a memorable double hundred in the second Test of the ongoing three-match series in Pune. 

Kohli made an unbeaten 254 as India declared with 601/5 in the first innings before picking up three of Proteas wickets for just 36 runs by the close of play on Day 2. 

"I mean he is a world-class player. Credit to India today, in terms of how they went about their business," Nkwe told reporters after stumps. "It was a very crucial partnership between (Ajinkya) Rahane and Kohli. Obviously, he led by example and it was a great knock from him. It was superb to watch."

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In a partnership of 178 runs with Ajinkya Rahane, Virat made sure India survives the new ball threat posed by Kagiso Rabada and Vernon Philander before settling himself at the crease for a long haul. He then stitched another magnificent 225-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja and stamped India's authority. 

The 30-year-old also reached the 7,000-run mark and became the first Indian batsman in the history of Test cricket to score seven double hundreds in the process. 

"When you are bowling to the world-class line-up, that's what happens and we take good learnings from that. Very important learning that we need to take forward into the second innings," Nkwe said. 

"Yes, it is a bit of inexperienced bowling attack we have, we knew that. One thing I will never question is the character of our team and the boys gave their all."

The Proteas now have an uphill task ahead of themselves. However, Nkwe is confident of his troops showing a lot of fight like they did in Vizag in the first innings. 

"Nothing really changes in terms of the intent. We just got to keep having a positive mind to score runs. We proved this in the first innings of the first Test. We are not going to back down."

"It is going to be important that we build a very strong partnership. Obviously, the two batters will have to set them up and it is important that they become a lot more ruthless," he concluded. 

(Inputs from ANI)