Eden Gardens, Kolkata – November 6, 2023: In a post-match press conference at Eden Gardens, Ravindra Jadeja, the Indian all-rounder, showered praise on Virat Kohli for his exceptional performance during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match against South Africa. Kohli’s stellar innings, which marked his 49th ODI century, played a pivotal role in India’s comprehensive victory and propelled them to the top of the points table.
Jadeja acknowledged the challenging conditions at Eden Gardens, where the wicket turned slow and made batting difficult during the afternoon session. He commended Kohli for skillfully navigating through this phase, describing the achievement as “special” given the circumstances.
“In the afternoon, there was a turn and it was slow, so batters couldn’t hit well,” Jadeja remarked. “But credit to Virat and the middle-order batters who handled their spinners, it was very good.”
The Indian all-rounder highlighted the importance of Kohli’s innings in steering the team through a period when the South African spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, had tightened their grip on the game. He noted how Kohli’s ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries during this challenging phase was commendable.
“I would say this is special for him as well because of the way the wicket was in the afternoon,” Jadeja added. “At one time, it felt like 260-270 was also fine, and at that time, rotating the strike and taking boundaries, I think that must have been very challenging.”
Jadeja also emphasized Kohli’s role in achieving a score above 300 and avoiding dismissal, terming it a “very big achievement” and a significant effort by the Indian captain.
The middle overs of the match saw South Africa’s spinners create difficulties for the Indian batsmen. However, Kohli, with support from Shreyas Iyer, managed to keep the scoreboard ticking, laying the foundation for India’s imposing total.
The victory took India to the top of the points table in the ongoing World Cup, and the team’s impressive form continues to be a talking point in the cricketing world. As the tournament progresses, Kohli’s leadership and batting prowess will undoubtedly be crucial for India’s campaign.
