WI v IND | I take a lot of pride in stepping up for the team, says Virat Kohli
Indian skipper Virat Kohli has claimed that he still takes a lot of pride in stepping up when the team requires him to. Kohli slammed his 43rd ODI hundred and, along with a belligerent knock by Shreyas Iyer at No.5, took India home to a comfortable six wicket win to seal the away series 2-0.
Over the course of his career, Kohli has continued to prove the âindividual greatnessâ narrative false. In a team sport, according to the Indian skipper, it is the collective effort that brings fruit. Yesterday was no different either as the team needed to chase down 255 from a mere 30 overs.
Kohliâs masterful hundred, ably supported initially by Shikhar Dhawanâs run-a-ball 36, Iyerâs 41-ball 65, and a 12-ball cameo by Kedar Jadhav, meant that the job was done in a jiffy. Speaking to the press after the match, Kohli was elated that he could do the job once again.
âIâve been around for a while, so experience counts. I definitely take a lot of pride in stepping up for the team. Yes, two good games with the bat for me. But more importantly, we got the results because of my contribution as well. Eventually, thatâs all that matters. We were under a bit of pressure, but Shreyas took all the pressure off me with the way he played. I think itâs always a collective team effort, and thatâs how we want to play our cricket,â Kohli said, reported Cricbuzz.
Things couldâve ended in nightmarish fashion for the skipper, when a Kemar Roach delivery spat at him from a length in the 27th over. It struck full on his thumb and Kohli was in real pain â and a billion Indians held their breath. However, Kohli later revealed that he should fit as a fiddle for the first Test.
âLuckily itâs not broken. When I got hit, I thought it was worse than what it turned out to be. I should be good for the first Test,â he said.
For the hosts, West Indies, it was yet another defeat in the ODI strip. Yesterdayâs defeat means that the boys from the Caribbean have only won two of their last 12 ODI matches.
Having won the toss and electing to bat, things could not have gone any better for the Windies. Chris Gayle, and Evin Lewis attacked the Indian seamers mercilessly with their 115-run stand coming in less than 11 overs. However, for Gayle, it wasnât to be the perfect farewell, as his team failed to capitalize on the momentum the two had built up.Â
As a former RCB teammate, and a great friend off-field as well, Kohli was quick to praise the big West Indian legend, who will soon be leaving the shores of international cricket forever.Â
âWell Chris, I would like to congratulate him for a great career playing for West Indies. He has done so much for West Indies cricket, and heâs an icon all over the world. Heâs one of the nicest human beings around. That, for me, is his biggest quality. So helpful with the youngsters, so fun-loving, and always smiling even in the most pressure situations. Chris Gayle, the person, is the best part of him. Everyone knows about his cricket,â Kohli added.Â
