Kolkata: It was double delight for Virat Kohli, star of India’s victory over Pakistan on Saturday night. Not only did he crack an unbeaten half century to ensure his team’s all-win record in ICC tournaments over arch rivals Pakistan but he also played this knock in front of his idol Sachin Tendulkar.
As soon as Kohli completed his half century he bowed towards the pavilion, and many wondered why he did it. Clapping from the VIP box in the pavilion was none other than the legendary Tendulkar. It was during the post-match chat when commentator Harsha Bhogle asked him about it that Kohli remarked: “That was for a gentleman who had flown in from Mumbai and was sitting in the box. It’s very difficult to explain that feeling because I started playing cricket watching him (Tendulkar), and you know see him in the stand and to be able to do that in front of 66,000 people, and against Pakistan in a crucial game and him celebrating, feeling happy....I can’t explain that feeling. As a child I have seen him do that for India and now I have the opportunity to do that in front of him. So, it’s a feeling that is undescribable.”
Close to midnight, Tendulkar responded to Kohli’s gesture through his Facebook post: “Great Win Team India!! Thank you for the innings and gesture Virat Kohli! Team India returning to the dressing room after the game waved to me. Felt like I never left the team....”
Soon after the match, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was asked about how Kohli is able to perform on all kinds of surfaces. He said: “I think it’s the hunger to perform, that willingness to take up the challenge at every opportunity. Different people look at the same thing in different ways. I feel his biggest plus point is that he takes everything as a challenge, wants to improve, wants to contribute in each and every game. And because he wants to contribute and score runs, he prepares well, takes care of his fitness, and now he understands how he’s supposed to bat and score runs on different wickets. And we all know, once he gets going, once he gets a start, he always converts it into a big innings, which I feel is one of the most important things for any youngster coming into the game.”
Pakistan’s Shoaib Malek too was asked on what sets Kohli apart and he replied: “Kohli backs his skills, and I think that’s the key to his consistency. He reads the situation well and he knows how to play on any difficult track or flat tracks. I believe you are the best coach for yourself. If you talk to yourself, you will have all the answers. And as a batting unit, I think we too need to do the same thing.”
