World Cup 2019: Three tactics from Virat Kohli that ensured India's victory over South Africa

India opened their points account with a dominating victory over South Africa by 6 wickets in the former's first World Cup 2019 match. Batting first, South Africa didn't get the best of starts as both Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla were sent packing by Jasprit Bumrah.

The innings was solidified then by the middle order but the Indian wrist spinners left South Africa in a spot of bother at 135 for 6 after 35 overs but Chris Morris and Kagiso Rabada then took South Africa to a fighting total of 227 for the loss of 9 wickets in the first innings.

Chasing a smallish total, Rabada sent Shikhar Dhawan early, leaving Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to ride out the new ball but the skipper couldn't continue as he got out for 18 off 34 balls. Then, Rohit and KL Rahul stitched a wonderful partnership which was followed by another between the vice-captain and MS Dhoni. Rohit scored a wonderfully composed century, while Hardik Pandya finished the game.

It was Rohit's match-winning 122 runs off 144 balls that earned the most plaudits but Kohli's brilliant captaincy in the first innings should also be applauded. So, in this slideshow, we take a look at three tactics from Virat Kohli that were very important in India winning their first match.

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#3 Team selection

South Africa v India - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Many thoughts were lingering on what team combination would Kohli decide to go with and he went with his tried and trusted combination. He trusted Kuldeep Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar over Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami respectively which would have left many fans unhappy but the decision definitely paid off.

Bhuvenshwar along with Jasprit Bumrah bowled a brilliant opening spell while Kuldeep was also brilliant in the middle overs. Over the years, many have scrutinized Kohli's team selection but credit where its due. Kohli didn't get it wrong in terms of the playing XI.

#2 Attacking fields in the first 10 overs

South Africa v India - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

When South Africa came into bat and after the first over bowled by Jasprit Bumrah, it looked like the wicket had something for the fast bowlers and straightaway, Kohli went with two slips. Bumrah got the wicket of Hashim Amla, caught by Rohit at second slip.

Kohli almost had a Test match like field setting, especially for the first 8 overs - a gully, two slips, no third man and huge spaces on the off side. An incident which was a brilliant captaincy call from Kohli was when Bumrah was bowling to Quinton de Kock during the sixth over of the match and during the early part of that over, Kohli had two slips in place.

But seeing him struggle against Bumrah, Kohli decided to put himself at third slip and on the 5th ball of that over, de Kock was caught by the skipper at that exact position. That incident highlighted the attacking nature of Kohli's captaincy in the early part of South Africa's innings.

#1 Banking on Kul-Cha to remove the South African middle order

South Africa v India - ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Another decision by Kohli that should be lauded is that he brought on both Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal early in the innings, even after seeing the assistance the fast bowlers were getting from the pitch. He brought on Kuldeep after the completion of the first powerplay and he tightened things up from one end.

Then came the magical spell from Chahal. It was a masterpiece from him, showing how to use drift and bounce. Chahal and Yadav ripped through the South African middle order with ease, picking up 5 wickets between each other.

Chahal ended picking 4 wickets for 51 runs off his 10 overs, while Kuldeep picked up 1 wicket, giving away 46 runs off his 10 overs. Kohli has always maintained high regards for his two wrist spinners and against South Africa, both of them justified his trust.