Middle-order batsman says he was hungry for runs after enduring rough patch against England
Virat Kohli was the ‘other’ star of the day for India on Day Three of the first Test against Australia here yesterday. Though his 107 was later overshadowed by his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s double ton, the fact that he and Sachin Tendulkar stitched together a significant 91-run stand for the fourth wicket, can hardly be ignored. Tendulkar departed for 81 after which Dhoni took to the crease and remains unbeaten on 206.u00a0
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India’s Virat Kohli on reaching his century on Day 3 of the Chennai Test yesterday
Kohli felt he could have done better with his fourth Test century. “It’s disappointing not to score a big hundred, but I am happy to get a ton here,” Kohli told reporters at the end of what turned out to be a fine day for the hosts. The Delhi dasher, who scored his fourth Test ton yesterday however, did not rate it as his best. “I have got four Test centuries and all are special to me, but I will rate the Adelaide ton (January, 2012) as the best of my career,” he added.
With a string of poor scores in the previous Test series against England, except for the 103 in the first stint of the fourth Test in Nagpur, Kohli admitted he was desperate to get among the runs against the Aussies. u00a0“I was hungry for runs before this series. I was very fresh and energised after a month’s break and was eagerly waiting to score big after a rough patch against England,” he said.
The middle-order bat heaped praise on his skipper for ‘single-handedly’ taking on the game to the Australians. “Dhoni has single-handedly taken the match away from Australia here. We needed a big partnership after Sachin was out, and in spite of keeping wickets for a day and a half, and then coming out and scoring a double-country, Dhoni is still not tired.
All those, who doubted his batting in Test cricket, have got their answer today. He is a very fit guy, who is playing well in all three formats. Getting a double century at No 6 and that too at such a good strike rate (84.55 per cent) is quite brilliant.”u00a0
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