New Zealand’s stand-in captain Tom Latham said that Virat Kohli is almost unpenetrable, applauding him for his innings in the 2023 World Cup clash against India in Dharamsala. He also felt Kohli maintained a perfect tempo throughout the innings to chase the target as well and helped India win. He scored 95 with 8 fours and 2 sixes as well.
While speaking at the post-match presentation, Latham said: “Kohli played a fantastic innings. Controlled the tempo and the rest could bat around him. As a captain, you have to be proactive but also work to your plans. Think about match-ups. Virat has a response to most plans.”
However, Tom Latham also felt Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell had set the perfect platform, but also added that the other batters’ failed to capitalize. They will next face Australia in Dharamsala on October 28th. India, on the other hand, reached the top of the table.
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He said: “We didn’t capitalise in the last ten overs (with the bat). India bowled well in the death and we left a few runs out there. With the ball, we never got a double breakthrough. I don’t think we capitalised, 30-40 short. From a batting point of view, Ravindra and Daryll gave the perfect blueprint. That are positions we want to be in, and when we get things right at the back end, we are dangerous.”
Rohit Sharma also opened up after the win. He said as quoted by Cricbuzz: “Good start to the tournament. Job is half done. Important to stay balanced. Not to think too far ahead. Important to stay in the present. Shami took the oppurtunity with both hands. He has the experience in these conditions and is a class bowler. At one stage, we were looking at 300 plus. Credit to our bowlers at the back end. I am enjoying my batting. Both are different personalities but we (Him and Gill) compliment each other.
Happy that we won. Nothing much to say. He (Kohli) has done this for us so many years. He backed himself to do the job. Kohli and Jadeja pulled us back when we lost a few wickets in the middle. The fielding is something we pride ourselves on. Today the fielding wasn’t clinical. Ravindra Jadeja is one of the best fielders in the world. These things happen. We know that fielding is something that will decide a lot of things going forward. We love travelling and playing in different parts of the game.”
