Former India opener Gautam Gambhir wants Virat Kohli to bat with his usual intent in India’s upcoming Test series against South Africa. Both sides will take on each other in two Tests, with the first game starting in Centurion on Tuesday, December 26. Kohli will try to make good contributions with the bat and help the visitors register a maiden Test series win in South Africa.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Gambhir said: “A lot of things will depend on the type of wickets you play on. If the wicket is flat, you will see the same type of batting and strike rate. However, if the wicket is challenging, you don’t want your most prominent player to think about the strike rate and play a shot that gives an opportunity. It will be in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s minds that Shreyas Iyer, who is on his first tour, will be batting after Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul, if he plays, will be playing as a wicketkeeper for the first time. However, I want Virat Kohli to bat with the same intent he is known for.”
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However, Virat Kohli has smashed 719 runs at an impressive average of 51.35 in seven Tests in South Africa as well. His 217-ball 153 in the 2018 Centurion Test is his best knock against the Proteas away from home as well. Gautam Gambhir also added that he would want Virat Kohli to play as per the demands of the situation.
“I always believe there is no intent in Test cricket. You play according to the situation, conditions, and the bowler’s spell. If a bowler is in good rhythm, you see off that spell as you have an entire day to capitalize. It is not T20 that you have to take a chance even if someone is bowling well,” Gautam Gambhir concluded. “We always talk about scoring runs, but in Test cricket, if you imagine that Rabada is bowling an exceptional spell and you know that if you see off one more over, either Keshav Maharaj or Wiaan Mulder would come and you could capitalize there, so seeing off that six-over spell is most important for the overall outcome.”
