Virat Claims MOTM Honours With Blistering 0 (4)

Chennai

In the opening match of its ODI series against Australia, captain Virat Kohli stood up to his week from hell and smashed a brilliant 0 (4) to guide India home.

His innings displayed all the shots you would expect from an Indian batsman on a bouncy pitch, including a couple of glorious play and misses outside of off stump.

By the time Kohli had broken Australia with his four ball marathon, the obviously tired batsman spooned one to point where Maxwell took a relatively simple catch.

Speaking after the game, Kohli explained that the week had been hard for him.

The start of a series is always difficult. There is huge pressure on you. But I faced it head on and nearly lasted a whole over against living legend Nathan Coulter-Nile. A lesser batsman wouldn’t have been able to have lasted as long.

Kohli went on to explain that the four balls he faced probably stopped an Indian collapse.

They were four great balls. A lesser player would have nicked all of them. But I protected the lower order by seeing them off.

However, the Australian camp didn’t quite agree with the result, questioning how Steve Smith’s 1 (5) wasn’t worthy of the Man of the Match award.

Kohli got none. Smith got one. That’s infinity better.

Man of the Man committee member N Srinivasan said the decision to give the award to Kohli was relatively simple.

I have done nothing wrong.

Kohli defended his record against Australia in 2017, which has delivered an average of 7.66 from six innings.

Have you seen how much money I have? I could buy the whole of Australia if I wanted to.

Kohli went on to add that he hopes to last for at least 6 balls in the next match and cannot wait to bring out the sweep.Follow @denniscricket_