In Stats: How Virat Conquered England With Patience and Discipline

Here’s a look at Virat Kohli’s first Test century in England through numbers.

Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a century on Day 2 of the first Test against England.

(Photo: AP)

The Indian team's five-Test series in England was going to be Virat Kohli's sternest test yet – as cricketer and as captain. This, given the history of his disastrous tour of the country in 2014 when he scored a total of 134 in 5 Tests, falling repeatedly to the luring line outside the off stump.

There was no doubt that the Indian captain would be under the spotlight on this tour. And so it happened. There was plenty of focus on Kohli in the build up to the series opener; he was central to most discussions and questions were asked across platforms if he had learnt from the 2014 tour and if he had overcome the deficiencies.

On Thursday, he answered all those questions which were asked – and put the lid on the ones which were yet to be asked.

Conditions were trying; even though the sun was out, the ball did a little bit off the surface all day. James Anderson, who was expected to be his tormentor, had set his radar, had settled down into a rhythm and was asking several questions of the batsmen. The 36-year old even bowled an extended spell; his first spell was 10 overs long – which gave him the opportunity to have an early burst at his key opponent.

After dismissing the hosts for 287, India were off to good start – the openers adding 50 runs in each other’s company. But in a matter of minutes, India lost three wickets in quick succession, were reduced to 59 for 3 and had lost grip over proceedings. The home team’s bowlers had their tails up.

But none of what was happening at the Edgbaston seemed to affect Virat Kohli. He was focused; he knew what had to be done. And he delivered the goods – when it was needed most. The Indian captain played what should rank as one of his finest Test innings so far – this, even considering he had already scored 21 hundreds previously.

Digest these:

• Kohli made 149 out of India’s total of 274, which converts to 54.4% of the team’s runs.
  
• Kohli’s 149 was the top score of the innings, the second highest score was Shikhar Dhawan’s 26.
  

There were several attributes that stood out about Kohli’s knock on Thursday. Style and elegance weren’t among them. Discipline, patience and application were.

Discipline

Virat respected the bowlers when they had their tails up; he backed his technique, ability and judgement of the off stump, and survived testing periods of play. He left plenty of deliveries in the first half of his innings – particularly against Anderson. Kohli’s handling of Anderson – which was perhaps the result of his will to not give his wicket to his tormentor – was reminiscent of Sachin Tendulkar’s discipline during his knock of 241 against Australia at Sydney when he completely binned the drive through the off-side.

Patience

Virat displayed good temperament during his knock too. After surviving Anderson’s testing spell, Virat took toll of the remaining English bowlers. Against Anderson, he scored only 18 off 74 balls – 64 of those deliveries were dot balls; he even played out a series of maiden overs against the bowler, but did not lose patience at any point in time.

Virat needed 100 balls to score his half-century and accelerated thereafter, scoring the remaining 99 runs off 125 balls.

Application

With the conditions favouring the fast bowlers, there was little room for flamboyance or flashiness. One had to bat conservatively, and Virat batted exactly as the coaches would advocate: play as late as possible, play close to the body and meet the ball right under the eyes.

Virat applied well and was very aware of the pulse in the middle. When Ravichandran Ashwin became the 7th Indian batsman to be dismissed, Virat Kohli was on 57; he scored 92 runs thereafter in the company of the lower order. The Indian captain farmed the strike and gave the three fast bowlers very little to face. Shami, Ishant and Umesh faced a total of 37 balls, while Virat faced a total of 116 balls in the company of the three fast bowlers.

Big players rise to the occasion. Virat did so on Wednesday; he made a statement that it wasn’t beyond him to conquer English conditions. The Indian captain has won round one of a possible ten rounds; it will be interesting to see how England respond and how the rest of the series unfurls.

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