'To see him play those aerial shots was refreshing,' Sunil Gavaskar analyses Virat Kohli's innings against West Indies in 2nd T20I

Former India skipper Virat Kohli’s form in recent times has been a little worrying but in the second T20I match against West Indies, Kohli played a terrific innings of 52 runs off 41 balls. His innings was comprised of 7 boundaries and 1 six. Later, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant scored 52 (not out) runs to help their side in reaching a solid total of 186 runs losing five wickets in 20 overs. Eventually, Indian team registered a victory by 8 runs.

While talking about Virat Kohi’s superb knock, former Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar said that Kohli’s batting in the second T20I match against West Indies “showed purpose.’

Gavaskar speaks

“We have seen Virat Kohli all this while and he is the same. Yes, he played some of those delicate shots - the cut and guide shots - which we normally don't see because he prefers to play in the 'V' and shots which are along the ground most of the time. So to see him play those aerial shots was refreshing because it shows there is a different purpose now. We talk about intent, but his batting showed purpose and that was not to get the bowler get on top because of the early wicket of Ishan Kishan," Gavaskar said while talking to the host braodcaster. 

“Even Rohit said it that Kohli took the pressure off him. Rohit wasn't in his usual flow today in the match. So you need one man to take the pressure off the other. Also there is running between the wickets. More than anything else with Kohli is that he has got the instinct for a run where a run should be, and instinct that there should be minimum dot balls in an innings,” the 72-year-old former Indian batsman added.

Unsuccessful run-chase

In reply, West Indies team made the game an exciting affair as they reached a total of 178 runs losing 3 wickets but eventually the visitors had to suffer another defeat.

Indian bowlers- Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravi Bishnoi picked up a wicket each.

The third and final T20I match of the series is scheduled to be played on February 20 (Sunday), in Kolkata.