There were no demons in the wicket: Kohli

Image
Press Trust of India Mohali
Last Updated : Nov 07 2015 | 4:57 PM IST
India may have wrapped up the first Test against South Africa in just under three days but skipper Virat Kohli today said that there were "no demons" in the wicket, though he admitted it was more of a bowlers' game.
Chasing a 218-run target on a turning track, the Proteas were bundled out for 109 runs in 39.5 overs in the final session as the match ended inside three days at the IS Bindra stadium here to give India a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series.
"I don't think there were any demons in the wicket, the ball did not turn square at any stage, batsmen had to apply themselves but it was a bowlers' game," said Kohli at post match presentation ceremony.
In what turned out to be a low-scoring game, batsmen failed to sustain for long on the PCA track.
"We thought if we are finding it difficult on this wicket, it is going to be difficult for them (South Africa) as well," said Kohli.
Major contribution from Murli Vijay (75 and 47) and Cheteshwar Pujara's patient 77 in India's second innings helped the hosts post a challenging target.
"You need mental strength at this level. (Vijay and Pujara) are two of the most solid guys we have. Had we applied more, we could have given them a bigger target," he said.
Heaping praise on comeback man Ravindra Jadeja, who made a crucial 38 in the first innings to go with his eight wickets in the match, Kohli said: "I am happy for him (Jadeja), he went back, got lot of wickets in Ranji Trophy, scored runs as well. He is feeling good mentally now.
"People with all-round ability are hard to find, it is just a matter of him keeping his mental strength, and he can be an asset for India in the future," he added.
Kohli said it was important to win the first Test after losing both the T20 and ODI series in the past one and half month.
"First Test as captain at home was a special occasion for me, it is a young team, building a strong team together. Seeing the way things have gone in the past month and half, the way we played here, a lot of credit has to go to the team," said the skipper, who was playing his first Test as captain on the home soil.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Nov 07 2015 | 4:57 PM IST

Next Story