Watch: Virat Kohli Reveals Favourite Innings against South Africa

Two of the greatest modern day batsmen in the world and Royal Challengers Bangalore teammates Virat Kohli and AB Devilliers went live tonight on Instagram and discussed everything ranging from how to stay positive during these testing times and their on and off the field memories. While discussing all these Virat named his both innings in first test in 2013 as his best knock against South Africa

Virat’s favourite outing against South Africa

The Test that Virat mentioned was India’s first after the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar. After opting to bat, India posted 280 runs in the first innings. In return, South Africa made 244. India in their second innings went on to score 421 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara scoring 153 and Virat Kohli making 96, falling four runs short of becoming the first Indian no.4 to hit centuries in both innings of a test match. Their 222-run stand is the highest for India in South Africa in tests.

Virat Kohli reveals Best Innings against South Africa pic.twitter.com/8tjEl55Kbd

— Himanshu (@himanshux_) April 24, 2020

Virat got out to the bowling of JP Duminy in the second innings. He said that he couldn’t believe that he got out to JP and also pointed out to Devilliers that he also bowled in that match and that made it more special for him. Devilliers also narrated an incident from that match where the then South African captain Graeme Smith asked him to bowl a few overs after keeping the wickets for the entire test match and how he took it as a challenge and accepted the opportunity despite feeling his legs numb. Dale Steyn was at his peak during that time and Kohli recollected how Steyn made him uncomfortable by bowling quick bouncers.

Chasing a target of 458 runs, South Africa ended up with 450 runs for the loss of seven wickets, leading to a draw. The team’s total of 450, is the second-highest fourth-innings score to draw a match and third overall. Francois du Plessis and AB de Villiers made centuries in the South Africa total. Described as one among the “closest draws”, the fourth innings total of 450 made by South Africa is the second-highest by a team in a drawn match and third overall.

Special Test match

During the match, wicket-keepers from both the teams bowled, making it the first time to happen in the history of Test cricket. Described as one of the “Closest draws”, the match saw a few players from both sides achieving significant milestones in their careers – India’s Zaheer Khan became the fourth Indian to capture 300 wickets in Test cricket. Vernon Philander playing in his 19th Test match, became the fastest bowler to take 100 wickets for South Africa. The Test also marked the eighth occasion where Indian spinners failed to pick up a single wicket.