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Virat Kohli celebrates his century. (AP)
Considered one of the most hostile wickets in the Rainbow Nation, the wicket at the SuperSport Park has time and again seen the Indian batsmen struggle. In fact, even the likes of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman failed to score a century here. Only Tendulkar had managed a ton at this venue in December 2010, when he hit an unbeaten 111* in the second innings of the match, but failed to find support from the other batsmen as India lost the game by an innings and 25 runs. Yes, the current Centurion wicket had no venom in it, but to bat at a strike rate of 70.50 on a two paced wicket with variable bounce is no mean feat against a bowling attack comprising of Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and debutant Lungi Ngidi.
Interestingly, it was none other than Tendulkar who was one of the first to applaud Kohli on social media. He tweeted: “Important innings played by @imVkohli. If we bowl well, we have a chance to do something special. Come on guys!! #SAvIND.”
Important innings played by @imVkohli. If we bowl well, we have a chance to do something special. Come on guys!! #SAvIND
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 15, 2018
With this century, Kohli also became the second Indian batsman after Tendulkar to score two centuries against the Proteas on their soil. Tendulkar leads the chart with five and Kohli is second on two. That's not all. Kohli has now equalled the legendary Don Bradman’s record of scoring eight 150-plus scores as captain. Also, all his last 10 hundreds have been scores in excess of 150 and that is something that has impressed Laxman.
Taking to Twitter, Laxman wrote: “In Virat Kohli 's first 11 test hundred's, 2 scores of 150 + ,next 10 hundred's, all converted to 150 + .The thing about big players, when they score, they make it count. Important now for the bowlers to bowl with discipline. #SAvIND.”
In Virat Kohli 's first 11 test hundred's, 2 scores of 150 + ,next 10 hundred's, all converted to 150 + .The thing about big players, when they score, they make it count.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) January 15, 2018
Important now for the bowlers to bowl with discipline. #SAvIND
Going into the second Test, Kohli had promised intent, and he has made sure that he leads the way with a magnificent game changing 153. "To win a Test anywhere in the world you need to stay in the present moment and try and win each moment that comes your way. We feel in Test cricket every ball is an event and we need to be at the top of the game to win that event and that’s why it tests you more than any other format.
“It is a test of character throughout for all five days. That’s one reason why we have won many games in the past is because we have applied ourselves really well. And the most important thing is that we don’t give up after being put under pressure. We are a team that looks to fight back and get right back into the game we are not a team that gives opposition easy victories. We are going to test them and in a scenario we have a chance to go at the target or for a win everyone knows that we will do that," Kohli had said on the eve of the game.
First Published: January 16, 2018, 9:35 AM IST