Virat Kohli expressed satisfaction with his patience during the fourth Test of the series against Australia in Ahmedabad. Noting that his defense was his strongest asset, he highlighted his physical fitness as instrumental to sustaining his long innings. The 34-year-old achieved his first Test century after November 2019, and the Ahmedabad Test was the occasion for his big score of 186 off 364 balls, which stretched over 517 minutes, including 15 fours. During his post-match discussion with head coach Rahul Dravid, Kohli detailed his strategy during the Ahmedabad Test. On bcci.tv, the former captain shared:
“I had to be patient; I had to trust my defense. That’s the template I have always played with in Test cricket. My defense is my strongest point. When I defend well, I know that when the ball is loose and it’s there to hit, I can cash in and get the runs that I need.
“The one thing that really calmed me down was that I was happy to run just ones and twos and score a hundred. I can bat four to five sessions. That’s where the fitness and physical preparation comes into play for me.”
India needed to put up a strong batting performance in the fourth Test against Australia after their opponents posted 480 in their first innings. Led by Virat Kohli, with excellent contributions from Shubman Gill (scoring 128) and Axar Patel (reaching 79), the hosts got an impressive 571 total.
I can bat in many ways: Virat Kohli
Expressing his success in international cricket over the years, Kohli mentioned that his ability to adjust his batting style according to different situations had been one of the pivotal elements. He further stated:
“I go into the field relaxed because I know I can bat in many ways. I am not desperate if I play three sessions. It’s not like I feel I am breaking down here and I need to get fast runs, otherwise I won’t be able to stay out there for long.”
“You need to adjust according to the conditions that are in front of you. This is one of the main reasons why I have been able to play all formats of the game for so long.
“The adaptability comes from the knowing that physically I can do things in many different ways. Mentally, I can prepare to play in a certain way, but if my body won’t support it, then I’ll be found out.” He further added.
