Virat Kohli satisfied achieving double century in 1st Test against West Indies
Virat Kohli became first ever Indian captain to achieve double century in Test cricket as visitors' dominated the play on Day 2 declaring their 1st innings at 566 for 8.
When Virat Kohli toured West Indies for his first Test, he struggled to get the runs. Infact, off-spinner and all-rounder Harbhajan Singh got more runs than him on that tour. Since then, India have never played a Test series in the Caribbean. But now as they are playing four-Test series against the hosts, the tables have changed and Kohli is heading a new bunch of players under his belt. This was the moment for Kohli to get the runs and he did so achieving his maiden double ton on the Caribbean soil on Friday. The memories of that tour had not faded away, but Kohli instead rewrote the history books by becoming the first Indian captain to get a double century in Tests overseas. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs West Indies 2016, 1st Test at Antigua
Post match, while speaking to BCCI.TV, the Indian Test skipper reflected on his innings and spoke about the different facets of his game. Kohli recollected his debut tour to West Indies and felt happy of what he has achieved today, “Yes, it is a very good feeling. I made my debut here and it wasn’t a memorable series for me. Coming back here and getting a double hundred gives me a lot of satisfaction purely because of the fact that I have missed a couple of big scores in the past. I know I have the ability to get big hundreds. This is my first double hundred in first-class matches in general, so this is something I always wanted to do and I am feeling really grateful today that I was able to cross the mark. It is just a very good feeling. Test cricket is the most important format as far as I am concerned and the whole of team is concerned, so when you do well in Test cricket, it gives you the job satisfaction like nothing else. I am really happy for this moment.”
Kohli also spoke about the challenges and various permutations he used for the 1st Test,“See, it is very important to understand the responsibility in front of you when you go in with a combination. Playing five batsmen is a bit of an added pressure on the batsman but that is what we want to take up as a challenge. As captain, I would never ask the players to do what I cannot do myself first and I have always believed in that. In this innings, the West Indies bowlers bowled well initially with the new ball and we were not getting many runs. I had decided in the change room that I am going to go out there, be positive and show intent and the runs started flowing. It was a very good batting effort by everyone and something that we can be proud of. It is a bit of an added pressure (on the batsmen) but something that is what you want at this level of cricket.” ALSO READ: IND vs WI 2016, 1st Test: Video Highlights of Kohli’s 200
He mentioned the pressure batsmen have on the crease and how the scenario is different off the crease, “I think what a lot of people don’t understand is that there is more pressure when you’re not batting. When you are in the change room, you’re interacting with people, you get to know what people are saying and what people close to you expect from you. I think those are the things that give pressure. When I go out to bat, I am all by myself and my batting partner. People don’t understand that I am actually at a lot of peace when I am batting alone out there because I don’t have to interact with too many people and don’t have to listen to their expectations or know what they require of me. ALSO READ: IND vs WI, 1st Test, Day 2: Video Highlights of Ashwin’s century
He ended the conversation adding, “I can literally reflect on myself, understand what my thoughts and mood are and then work on those things. That is why I always prefer being out there in the middle than getting to know these things from people. If people expect me to go out there and perform, it is because they like the way I play. They want me to do well so that the team can do well. I rather feel happy about it and I feel grateful that I am in this situation.”
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