AB’s advice, return to basics helps Kohli play captain’s knock

TIL Desk Sports/ After a disappointing outing in the first match, India skipper Virat Kohli played a patient captain’s innings of 73 not out (off 49 balls) as young power-hitters Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant went after the bowling to help India bounce back in the five-match series with a seven-wicket win over England in second T20I here.

Kohli was dismissed early, for a duck in the first match on Friday, as he tried to take on the England bowling early. However, he changed his game on Sunday and was more cautious in his approach before opening up.

“I had to shift the focus back to the basics. I’ve always taken pride in doing the job for the team. So more happy about that than scoring 70-odd. Kept my eye on the ball. The management spoke to me about things,” said Kohli after the match before crediting his knock to a piece of advice from South African batsman and his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate AB de Villiers.

“I had a special chat with AB de Villiers before this game and he told me just to watch the ball. So I did,” added Kohli. The India skipper was effusive in his praise of India’s bowlers as well as Kishan, who made a blistering 32-ball 56.