India's batting coach reacts to Kohli's 182-ball knock in 1st West Indies Test

ALICE SPRINGS, Australia - July 17, 2023 - PRLog -- Virat Kohli shared a century partnership with Jaiswal and Jadeja to take India to a score of 421/5.

Virat Kohli's 182-ball 76 helped India post 421/5 in the first Test against West Indies and eventually win the match by an innings and 141 runs. The pitch in Dominica was turning and bouncy for the spinners, so Kohli reined in his series of aggressive shots, not only hitting his first boundary of the innings on the 81st ball, and even after that, he did not hit another four for the next 43 balls.

There were some fans online who were dissatisfied with the calm nature of Kohli's innings, and were angered by the fact that the former India captain's innings ended with an easy dismissal before reaching his century. However, India's batting coach Vikram Rathour is very happy with the performance of this veteran batsman in Dominica.

"He is batting very well. As a batting coach, I think cricket is about adaptability. Playing one type of game, he is an aggressive player who likes to dominate, but the better player is one who can change his game. Someone who can play according to the conditions and team requirements is a better player for the team," Rathour told reporters.

"It's Virat's biggest quality. He is somebody who can play different formats differently. He can change his game according to the conditions and he has shown that several times. On that wicket, it was turning a lot. By the time he came out to bat, there was a huge turn and bounce on offer.

"The way he defended against left-arm spinners was a lesson for many many youngsters on how to play when the ball goes away from you. The way he defended and played his innings was extremely good to watch. With the approach he is batting, he will surely score a 100."

'Can't judge Gill in one inning'

India's decision to experiment with Shubman Gill at the No.3 position didn't pay off much. Gill, who performed brilliantly as an opener for India in the first Test, was dismissed by Jomel Warrican for just six runs. However, Rathore has said that India will continue to feed Gill on this post.

"We can't judge him on the basis of one innings. He has got a lot of time. He has the technique and temperament to play time when it is needed and can also play aggressively when a move-on is required. The game can progress. That's what we need at No.3 as it can be beneficial,'' Rathour said.