Video : Virat Kohli left smiling after Heinrich Klassen hits a boundary from outside the pitch

02/11/2018

182

On the field, sometimes players unknowingly produce moments which not only a surprise to the fans but also bring a smile on the faces of their opponents. The same thing happened to Virat Kohli when Heinrich Klaasen hit Yuzvendra Chahal for a boundary while standing outside width of the pitch.

The fourth ODI game of the six-match ODI series took place in Johannesburg where Team India won the toss and batted first. With the help of Shikhar Dhawan’s century and Virat Kohli’s 75-run knock, the team managed to score 289 runs in their allotted overs. The match was interrupted by lightning and rain which resulted in a revised target of 202 in 28 overs for the South African team.

When the hosts lost AB de Villiers’ wicket in the 17th over, the South African wicket-keeper came out to bat when team’s score was 102. He knew that at this moment his aggressive approach was the only way to help the side in keeping their hope alive in the series. He started batting in unorthodox style because the bowlers failed to control the wet ball and in his unconventional style he produced an amazing four. The technique of hitting the ball for four was so rare that, after watching it, a smile could be spotted across the Indian skipper’s face.

The incident occurred in the 22nd over of South Africa’s innings when Klassen was batting at 16 runs with David Miller on the other side. The South African tried to create some room on a Chahal delivery as he shuffled across his crease. But the Indian followed him and delivered a ball well outside off stump. The batsman, though, was in no mood to pull out of the shot and moved across his crease and outside the pitch before launching the ball towards the square leg boundary.

Klaasen's attempt even left the Indian skipper shaking his head as he failed to hide his smile after watching the unusual shot.