Kohli surpassed Mohammad Azharuddin’s splendid 192 against New Zealand in Auckland in 1990 for the highest score by an India captain away from home and became just the fifth India skipper to register a double hundred in Test cricket.
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Gabriel, though, should have had a wicket added to his one from day one early on the second day. “Had West Indies” fielders succeeded in either of the two attempts, Ashwin’s innings would have come to a premature end.
Ashwin was on 43 at that time.
Kohli responded by hitting the all-rounder for three consecutive boundaries to rub salt into the wounds, but the century stand was broken when Bishoo trapped Dhawan leg before on the stroke of tea.
His gentle off-breaks didn’t pose much threat to the batsmen, and Pujara in particular to attack him. It looks like nothing can stop Virat Kohli at this point of time. Kohli has his own way of choosing what balls to drive. With containing you have a job to do and Roston Chase is in his first Test match, Carlos Brathwaite has only played three Tests, and Jason Holder in his 15th Test.
“Kohli called me in the morning and said “you’ll be batting at six, ahead of Saha”, which is a big boost to my batting confidence”.
Cover driving, as usual, remained the feature of Kohli’s innings.
A sign of how well he batted came in how, in the 113th over, he played perhaps the only ungainly shot of his innings, a half-sweep across the line to deep midwicket. Turned out he had picked the rare wrong’un from Bishoo, and was actually playing with the spin.
Gabriel (2-65) ended Kohli’s dream run after the lunch as the Indian skipper got a thick inside edge on to his stumps.
Earlier, Ashwin put on 71 runs with Wriddhiman Saha (40 runs) in the post-lunch session. “Some of our guys need to work on their pace but it will take some time to get it right”. Dowrich finally had a maiden Test dismissal. “As a batsman myself, it was very pleasing to see and even though it was against the West Indies, I do appreciate seeing class and his was a classy knock”.
India had started off the day at their overnight score of 302 for four, with the two batsmen looking to bat as long as possible.
“Sanjay Bangar worked really closely with my stance for the last 12 months”. Exhausted minds and bodies dropped three catches; time seemed right for declaration. “I bowled a few overs, it looks like there might be a little bit of grip but it’s a long process”, Ashwin signed.
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Left to negotiate a testing hour before the close of play, the hosts lost Rajendra Chandrika on the bowling of Mohammed Shami, leaving opening partner Kraigg Brathwaite and nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo to resume on the third morning at 31 for one.
