Former India batsman VVS Laxman heaped rich praise on Virat Kohli, saying the captain was leading from the front with his intensity in the morning session on Day 2 of the ongoing 2nd Test in Christchurch.
VVS Laxman pointed out Virat Kohli is not getting bogged down by his form (or the lack of it) with the bat and is focussed on doing things right on the field.
Laxman’s comments came after India clawed back into the 2nd Test by rattling the New Zealand batsmen with pace on Sunday morning at the Hagley Oval. New Zealand started the day on 63 for 0 but were reduced to 143 for 5 at lunch.
Virat Kohli was pumped up on the field. He gave an animated send off to his good friend Kane Williamson who departed cheaply early in the morning. He took a fine low catch at the 2nd slip to send Henry Nicholls walking back just before the break. And there were quite a few expletive-laden celebrations as well as the India captain looked charged up.
“It was an excellent catch (to dismiss Nicholls). It’s never easy for the 2nd slipper to take those low catches. It also shows the balance that Virat Kohli has when he is getting ready in the slip position. It was a very, very good catch. That’s what you want from your captain. You want your captain to set an example,” VVS Laxman told Star Sports.
“The intensity, his body language was there to be seen. He is not getting affected by the low scores he has had so far on this tour.
“Because the worst thing for any team when you lose a Test match, when you lose a ODI series 3-0 is the body language and the confidence level of the captain getting affected. With Virat Kohli, you don’t see that. And that’s rubbing off on all the players.
“The body language is there to be seen on each and every player in the park.”
‘Great to see that aggression from Jasprit Bumrah’
Mohammed Shami led the India pacer’s charge from the front, picking up 2 wickets, including that of half-centurion Tom Latham, in the morning session of Day 2.
It all began when Umesh Yadav got one to move in and rap Tom Blundell on the pads in just his 2nd over of the day. Jasprit Bumrah got the big wicket when he got Kane Williamson to nick one to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
Williamson, who fell for 3, never looked comfortable out in the middle as Bumrah kept bowling the nagging length to trouble the New Zealand captain.
Heaping praise on Jasprit Bumrah’s intensity on Sunday, VVS Laxman said it was good to see the effort put in by the India pacer despite an ordinary series so far.
“Not only in this Test series, the discipline and the aggression perfect combination to put the best of batsmen under pressure. I think over the last 12-18 months, we have seen this effort from the Indian fast-bowling unit whether it’s in Australia`, South Africa or even at home,” VVS Laxman said.
India’s session.
A thoroughly impressive morning in the field for the tourists.#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/ePGyEvsQS6
ICC (@ICC) March 1, 2020
“To get rid of the greatest New Zealand batsman after Martin Crowe which is Kane Williamson early and to come back in this match after giving away 60 odd runs where New Zealand seemed to be on top shows the character of this India team.
“Brilliant catching and Virat Kohli, the captain, leading from the front.
“It was great to see that aggression from Jasprit Bumrah. We have talked extensively about how he hasn’t had the best of series so far. But today he was getting the extra bounce from that length which is why he becomes a dangerous customer.”
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