Virat Kohli starred with the bat in India’s crushing 243-run victory over South Africa in Match 37 of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Sunday (November 5).
Kohli played a gritty knock of 101 not out in 121 balls on a slow pitch, taking the hosts to a huge total of 326/5 on the board.
It was a special hundred for Kohli as it came on his 35th birthday and he also equalled the legendary Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of 49 ODI tons.
After the game, India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja lauded Virat’s innings, saying that it was achieved under challenging conditions that didn't favour easy stroke-making.
Jadeja himself made an impact on the game with his crucial cameo of 29* in 15 balls and a five-wicket haul (5/33 in 9 overs). However, Kohli was declared Player-of-the-Match.
"I think this will be very special for Virat himself. It was a very tough pitch and at times, it seemed that even 260-270 looked par," Jadeja said in the post-match conference.
"He rotated the strike and at the stage when runs dried up and their spinners were bowling well, to rotate strike and remain not out while taking score beyond 300, it takes effort," he added.
According to Jadeja, the pitch became relatively easier for batting in the evening.
"When they bowled, there was more help from the track, there was more turn on offer and the wicket didn't have bounce also. If you ask for my opinion, the pitch became easier for batting in the evening compared to afternoon, may be not easy but okay for batting.
"But in the afternoon, it was a slow turner. You couldn't hit big shots. Credit how Virat handled their spinners. We always had an idea that Kolkata is a low bounce track that aids spinners. We knew the wicket would play slow.”
Rohit's decision to bat first was planned as the Indian team wanted to assess how things may pan out if India play their semi-final in Kolkata and need to bowl under lights.
"We wanted to challenge ourselves, had we bowled in the afternoon, we wouldn't have given so many runs. We wanted to see how we could bowl if dew sets in and if knock-outs, if we get such a situation," Jadeja said.
In this World Cup so far, Ravindra Jadeja has registered scores of 39*, 8, 35 and 29* from four innings so far. He has also picked up 14 wickets with his left-arm spin.
"From the first day, I think like a captain but it is another thing that I am not the one. As an all-rounder, scoring 30-35 runs and being a partnership breaker, that's the role I have."
"I always try to give an impactful performance. And I never take fielding for granted. I can also miss a catch, so I am always prepared, that if I get a catch, I don't relax on the field. So, I just keep trying. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. But I keep trying," he said.
For Jadeja, big wickets against Australia and South Africa and vital runs against New Zealand hold greater significance.
"My rhythm has been good in the last few games and I am happy that I am able to contribute for the team in important games. I am delivering with both bat and ball. I will be more confident about my own game in the coming matches."
However, he admitted that the pace troika of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj have made the job easier for the spinners.
"Whatever track you play on, if fast bowlers are getting a couple of wickets upfront, it becomes easier for the spinner because the new batters can't play shots straight up and spinner becomes more confident while varying speeds and using more subtle variations.
"So faster bowlers are giving 2-3 wickets or even more up-front. Hope we can continue like this in knock-outs."
(With PTI inputs)
