Former Indian cricketer and team director Ravi Shastri on Wednesday heaped praise on Indian Test team captain Virat Kohli, saying he is maturing day by day as captain and termed it as good sign for the team.
Virat Kohli, along with middle order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, displayed superb batting, with both scoring centuries to bring India to a commanding position after suffering early blows from a disciplined English bowling attack
Virat scored his 14th Test century in just 154 balls in the 2nd Test match against England in Visakhapatnam.
“Virat Kohli is maturing day by day as the captain. It is a good sign for the Indian cricket team,” Ravi Shastri said during in IndiaTV’s special show ‘Cricket Ki Baat’.
Pujara also registered his 10 Test century. He scored his century off 184 balls. During his innings, Puajra also crossed the 3000-run mark in Test cricket for India.
On being asked for his suggestions for Team India for day 2 play, he said: “India should play two more sessions and try to put around 500 runs on the board to put England under pressure.”
Earlier, electing to bat first, Kohli and Pujara resurrected the Indian innings after England's leading pace pair James Anderson and Stuart Broad dealt early blows by sending back openers Murali Vijay (20) and Lokesh Rahul (0) early in the session.
Rahul, who returned to the playing XI after being sidelined with an injury during the last series against New Zealand, lasted only five deliveries before pacer Stuart Broad, in his very first over, induced an edge which went straight into the hands of Ben Stokes at third slip.
The visitors dealt India a second blow in the fifth over of the morning when comeback man James Anderson accounted for the wicket for in-form opener Murali Vijay.
The Chennai opener looked good for his 21-ball innings, laced with four boundaries. But Anderson took Vijay by surprise with a short ball which looped off his gloves giving a simple catch to Stokes at gully.
For England, James Anderson took three wickets and Stuart Broad managed to scalp only one.
Virat Kohli (151*) and R Ashwin (1*) were at the crease when on-field umpires called the stumps.
