India vs South Africa 2019, 2nd Test: Three talking points from day 2

#2 Virat Kohli’s stunning 254 not out

One of the hallmarks of Virat Kohli’s batting is his appetite for runs. He is never satisfied upon reaching a century and often converts it into a double hundred. In fact, Kohli already has seven 200-plus scores to his name (the fourth most in test history).

The latest one came on Friday at Pune. The innings, which finished on 254 not out, was decorated with several glorious front-foot drives.

Kohli came to the crease with the score on 163-2. He experienced a sedate start (4 runs off 24 balls) while he got used to the pitch.

But then the shackles broke. Keshav Maharaj, South Africa’s front-line spinner, bowled a marginally short ball in the 60th over and Kohli pounced on it, cutting it for four. Five over-throws followed soon after, which only compounded South Africa’s misery.

Kohli never looked back. He was especially destructive once he had reached 200 runs (off 295 balls). For instance, the 30-year-old waltzed down the pitch in the 150th over and connected with the meaty part of the bat, sending the ball soaring into the crowd.

He played the spinners with assurance and smashed their short balls for several boundaries.

Kohli’s 254 was a big talking point of day two.

#1 South Africa's three early wickets

India enjoyed a superb last hour of the day. They captured three South African wickets in only 15 overs as Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami ran amok with the new ball.

Having declared on a huge first-innings total, India entered the field in an upbeat mood.

It did not take them long to make the first breakthrough. Yadav emerged as India’s hero when he trapped Aiden Markram (0 runs) LBW in the second over. Soon after, Dean Elgar played a ball onto his stumps, to make the score 13-2.

Boosted by these dismissals, Kohli put in four slips and a gully in anticipation of an outside edge. The move paid dividends when Temba Bavuma, the new batsman, received a brilliant ball from Shami and edged it to wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha, who took a safe catch.

South Africa was now in a whole lot of trouble on 33-3.

The batting side must pull up their socks today if they want to remain series contenders.