India registered a clinical 203-run win against the South Africans in the first Test at Visakhapatnam on Sunday, and there every player contributed to the team’s success, on a difficult pitch. Openers stitched a great partnership with their fluent knocks. Even the bowlers did pretty well. Captain Virat Kohli is pretty impressed with their performances.

“If fast bowlers are going to think that spinners are going to do all the work, then it doesn’t justify their place. They ask for shorter spells so they can give 100%. That’s when you see guys like Shami, Ishant, Jasprit and Umesh as well, are doing well. It’s all about wanting to make a play for the team even in conditions that are difficult,” he said.

“Jaddu (Jadeja) and Ash (Ashwin) again, were both really good. Pitch was flat, they got a few boundaries away. Always knew it was going to be a second innings pitch. Shami has been a strike bowler in the second innings and did it again. All the guys lived up to their strengths,” he told.

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“Batting heroes were obvious. But bowlers had it tougher in this game. This lot of SG balls is much better than the last one. If it softens up, there’s literally nothing happening after 40-45 overs. Will still like it to be harder till about 60 overs,” he shared.

However, South Africa batsmen too did well where Elgar and de Kock scored centuries.

“The wicket played really good for the first three days. We lost a session. When you put 500 on the board, you’re always ahead. Even with the fight they showed, we still had a lead. Rohit was outstanding and Mayank was brilliant. It was a hard grind because of the conditions, especially the weather conditions. And the pitch slowed down too. It’s all about the attitude,” Virat Kohli concluded.