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Star Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan credited former skipper and star batter Virat Kohli for backing him to bat at number 4. It happened on the Day 4 of the second and last Test of the two-match series between West Indies and India. Kishan smashed a quickfire half-century and scored 52 runs off just 34 balls with 4 boundaries and 2 sixes to his name.
After the end of the fourth day’s play, Kishan spoke about the message Kohli gave him before he went out to bat. The thought process behind sending Kishan at number 4 was to accelerate the scoring rate for India and post a big target for West Indies in minimal time.
“It was really special (the half-century). I knew what the team needed from me. Everyone backed me. Virat backed me and told me ‘Go and play your game.’ Let us hope we will finish the game tomorrow. It was Virat bhai who took the initiative and told me that I should go in. There was a slow left-arm who was bowling. It was a good call for the team. Sometimes you need to take these calls,” said Ishan Kishan during an interaction after the end of the day’s play.
“We had the plan that we will play 10-12 overs after the rain break and score 70-80 runs. We wanted a 370-380 target,” he added later. Kishan's comments drew a lot of reactions from social media and fans took to Twitter to share their opinion.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Selfless King Kohli for reasons
— Virat Kohli Worldwide (@ViratianTweets) July 24, 2023
THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME FOR A REASON.
— A (@ReignOfMessi) July 24, 2023
Selfless king😌
— Prajwal Kulal99 (@kulal99) July 24, 2023
Virat Kohli is the most selfless player. He knew that if Ishan goes there he'll score some intl. runs and gain confidence. ♥️🥰
— Husain 🏴 (@husain_tweets18) July 24, 2023
GOAT for a reason King Kohli, always backs youngsters
— Yuvraj Sahu 🌐 (@imYuvrajSahu) July 24, 2023
Real captain King Kohli
— Yadav Ji (@kuchhtobaathai) July 24, 2023
Selfless King Kohli 😌
— Mel (@MythicalMelmet1) July 24, 2023
The Man, The Myth, The Legend
Kohli ji ❤️
— K 🇮🇳 (@VK18addict_) July 24, 2023
Speaking of the action of the match on Day 4, West Indies were given a strong target of 365 runs. They scored 76 runs for the loss of 2 wickets before Stumps. Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin scalped the wickets of skipper Kraig Brathwaite and Kirk McKenzie.
Should West Indies pull off the chase on Day 5, it would take a gigantic effort from their middle order. They could come out all guns blazing to win the match and level the series 1-1, or play defensively and save the Test match. Shortly after the Test series, the two teams will face off for a three-match ODI series, which will commence on July 27.