Virat Kohli drives through the covers (Courtesy: BCCI/Twitter)
Virat Kohli is a tough competitor on the pitch and he hardly gives an inch. His aggressive attitude has helped him become one of the greatest batters of the current generation. However, he has been in the limelight for his overall brilliance ever since he made his Test debut in 2011.
Kohli has been a prized wicket to take for any opposition. In 2012, when England toured India for a four-match Test series, the visitors were wary of his exploits. Former England batter Graeme Swann recalled how his side was cautioned against sledging Kohli in the series.
The visitors won the four-match series 2-1 but Kohli displayed his brilliance by scoring 103 runs in the final Test, which ended in a draw. Kohli took England fast bowler Steven Finn to the cleaners after the duo were involved in a spat during the match.
“We had been told beforehand to not say anything to this bloke (Virat Kohli). Steven Finn got driven for a couple of incredible fours and he lost the plot and had a go at him and realised his mistake straight away. Virat roared up like a tiger and Finn just doubled down and got smashed everywhere,” Swann during a Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
Swann also recalled bowling with Monty Panesar in tandem. They picked up 20 and 17 wickets respectively to help England clinch the series. And Swann was in all praise for Monty and his childlike innocence.
“The secret to Test cricket is to treat it as if you are the best player in the world and everyone else has to dance to your tune. I look back on that Test and I bowled fairly well but I didn”t feel like I was doing anything special. I was just supporting Monty on the other end because he was bowling 65mph, pitching middle and leg, fizzing past the outside edge and he was incredible in that game,” said Swann.
“I always liked playing with Monty, he had this childlike innocence about him and his love for cricket which was just amazing. I would always say to him I wish I could bowl like you, look at the shape you get on the ball, look at how consistent you are and he would just grin like a kid at Christmas,” he added.
England will next tour India for a five-match Test series, starting from January 25.
