India found themselves in trouble after bowling South Africa out for 335 in the first innings of the second Test at Centurion.
Virat Kohli was the lone warrior for India, still batting 85 off 133 balls at the end of the day and was partnered by Hardik Pandya, who is batting on 12 runs in 35 balls. They faced a barrage of brilliant bowling from South African fast bowlers.
Ngidi, Rabada, and Philander reversed the ball brilliantly, apart from swinging the ball traditionally. Hardik Pandya initially had problems picking the swing of the ball and Virat Kohli found out an ingenious idea to help Pandya out.
Part 1: This is interesting!! Kohli-Pandya devise a mysterious plan to encounter reverse swing via foot gestures pic.twitter.com/eDC2B4NWxV
— anshul kothari (@slimshady_ansh) January 14, 2018
Kohli held his bat in his left hand to signal an away going delivery from the bowler. To help Pandya prepare for an incoming ball, Kohli held the bat in his right hand, as per reports from Cricbuzz. Bowlers started picking up on the communication between Kohli and Pandya. So, Kohli changed the way of communication by using his feet to signal to Pandya. He started stretching out his left for an outswinger and right one for an inswinger.
Part 2: VK makes a change in his mysterious strategy for a last second change in seam position pic.twitter.com/pSGSidP218
— anshul kothari (@slimshady_ansh) January 14, 2018
The exchange between Pandya and Kohli happened, as reported by Cricbuzz.com:
"Yahan pe change kiya (He changed it here)," Kohli said after playing a defensive stroke off the pacer's third ball. "Andar ke liye leke hi bhaagaa tha woh (He ran in with the one that would originally come in), said Pandya.
"Jo leke niklega agar change karega toh uska opposite hai (The side of the ball he runs in with, if he changes, it will go the opposite way)," said Kohli offering some insights.
Pandya inquired whether his captain needed help, "Main bataaun aapko? (Should I tell you on spotting?)".
"Nahin nahin, mujhe dikha, main bataa raha hun (No, no.. I spotted it, I am just telling you)," Kohli said.
Indian batting let themselves down as the Proteas bowlers trimmed them to 187/5 by the end of the second day of the second Test. KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel, with exception of Pujara, got a start and then threw their wickets for careless shots. Pujara got run out off the first ball he faced, for a duck.
