Team India batting coach Vikram Rathour has shared that Virat Kohli does not need to practice a lot as he is well aware of his batting and condition. He stated that Kohli went into the Centurion Test with just one proper net session. The veteran did not play the three-day intra-squad practice game played at Tuks Oval in Pretoria due to personal reasons. But on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test, Kohli looked in good form and scored 38 before getting out to Kagiso Rabada.

Talking about the batter’s performance, Rathour said at the press conference after Day 1 of the Test match: “The stage of his career Virat (Kohli) is, I don’t think he needs a lot of practice. He bats a lot and trains a lot. So, if he practiced a few days less, doesn’t matter much. We saw, how well he was playing. It didn’t seem he was away from red ball cricket for six months. It’s a good sign.”

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However, Virat Kohli hit five fours, adding 68 for the fourth wicket with Shreyas Iyer (31 off 50) after they lost their first three wickets for 24 runs As well. Meanwhile, the start of the Centurion Test was delayed due to wet conditions. Overnight rain and the track being undercover for one-and-half made things tough for the side batting first. And, India were asked to bat first after South Africa won the toss.

“It was always going to be challenging. The weather was an issue. The wicket was under cover for a day or more than that. It was always going to be challenging as batting group. We would have loved to have couple of more wickets in hand. But we have done reasonably well. Post lunch, Rabada bowled an exceptional spell. We have to try and add as many runs as possible but as we have seen historically, this wicket deteriorates,” Vikram Rathour concluded.