South African bowlers weren't threatening at all - Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli scored a hundred on Day 1 of 1st Test at Johannesburg

Virat Kohli suffered a hit to the chest in the 1st ODI in South Africa a couple of weeks ago. It became the talk of the town with the term “softening up” appearing many a times in relation to Kohli.

Yesterday, on the first day of the Test series, Kohli’s maiden Test hundred in South Africa in his first innings here silenced a lot of critics who had blamed him for not being able to handle Steyn and co.

Virat Kohli commented on the build up to the series and revealed his thoughts on how he planned for the innings.

“Apparently I was pretty soft after the first ODI,” he said. “I always had it in mind that we were all going to get short stuff unless you attack them. So rather get out playing your shots than fishing outside the off stump. I was prepared and I was watching the ball closely. Later on they started bowling at the fifth-sixth [stump], so I don’t know where that bodyline bowling went.

“It is all about dictating terms when you bat. You can’t always play under pressure. Let them know you are here to compete. We have shown we have learnt from mistakes, we have practised hard. We stuck to plans, and you will see us improving as we play next.”

Having got an opportunity to bat at the coveted No.4 position after the departure of Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli said he had been waiting for this chance for a long time.

“I have been waiting for this opportunity to bat up the order. It’s something that I badly wanted to do in Test cricket because I am so used to going in at No. 3 in ODIs. I like to be in the action early on and get in while conditions are tough and then dictate terms. I had a plan in mind that I wanted to stick to, and wasn’t thinking about bowling, conditions, or the wicket. I just wanted to execute my plan,” he said.

About the bowling attack of the world’s best Test team, Virat Kohli didn’t think it was too ‘threatening’.

“I don’t think they were threatening at all. They are quality bowlers, but it was about respecting the conditions early on when you went in and the kind of bowling you were facing after that. You have got to get in and back yourself throughout. If they are good enough to play at this level, so are you. I had that belief, but had to respect the good balls that are being thrown at you. At the same time, you have got to be aware of cashing in on opportunities that are presented. That was key to my knock today, I latched on to whatever chances came my way, putting them away for boundaries,” Kohli said.

He also revealed that the South Africa tour has been on his mind for some time now, and has been a motivating factor for him so far.

“[It's] Funny because even during the ODIs versus Australia, I was thinking about getting a Test hundred in South Africa. That was all that was on my mind. I wasn’t even focussing on those ODIs or any other games we played against West Indies. Every training session we had I was motivating myself to do something like this. Because I know how special it has been for players to get a hundred in South Africa, it was very pleasing to do so.

“It is probably the best I have batted in Test cricket till now. It is just about building on to it and it feels nice when you plan something and it comes together, especially against a world-class bowling attack,” he said.

Kohli got out to a soft dismissal when he drove one wide length ball from Jacques Kallis straight into the hand of the fielder at cover. However, the batsman wasn’t too disappointed by the stroke, maintaining a positive attitude.

“If you are batting at 120 and don’t got for your shots, you can never go for your shots,” he concluded.