Australian skipper Steven Smith has rated Virat Kohli's knock during the group match at the World T20 as one of the best he has ever seen live. Kohli's blazing 82 during the match put an end to Australia's dreams of winning the tournament.
More than a month after the glorious knock, Smith told foxsports.com.au, “Looking at that innings that Kohli played, it was one of the best I’ve ever seen, definitely the best innings I’ve seen live or against me.”
Australia had given a target of 161 to chase in Mohali, and India's top-order had crashed within the first six overs. Kohli put on a one-man show and smashed 82 off 51 balls and gave his team a semi-final ticket. He struck nine fours and two sixes, smashing James Faulkner and Nathan Coulter-Nile for 16 runs in an over each.
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Smith, appreciating what he was witnessing, said that he had a lot to take away from the knock. “It was just amazing the way he was able to manipulate the field and every single time he hit the ball is seemed like it was going for a boundary, yet he wasn’t taking big risks.
“It was a classy innings and it’s nice to see that in the Twenty20 format of the game, that it’s not just muscle and power that can be successful; smart cricket and good decision making works as well.
“I think I learned a lot just watching that innings alone. You want to play those kind of innings for your team.”
The right-handed batsman, who has seen Brendon McCullum's fastest ton in Test history, Kane Williamson's two centuries in Australia and Joe Root's Ashes masterclass, still placed Kohli's innings ahead of all these innings.
Playing good cricketing shots is the key for me: Smith
Smith, who returned home midway through the IPL after an injury, also scored his first T20 century for his side Rising Pune Supergiants against Gujarat Lions.
He said that playing fine shots is more important to him than big-hitting. “I’m not one of the more powerful players so I have to rely on hitting the ball with the middle of the bat and manipulating the field and making sure I’m playing good cricket shots and keeping my shape, I think that’s key for me,” he said.
Australia did not have the service of their spearhead pacer Mitchell Starc at the World T20, and Smith felt his presence would have made the difference. He also said that he could have restricted Kohli from scoring during the match and would have taken the team over the line.
“Against India when Virat Kohli was smashing us around, it was a moment that probably would have suited him pretty well. To have him come on and bowl some good death bowling, some good yorkers; perhaps that may have got us over the line. You never know.”
Starc has been named in the Australian squad which will tour West Indies in June, and Smith said that he is looking forward to see the star bowler perform.
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