It has emerged that Virat Kohli wanted to declare but Ravi Shastri told him to score Century.
As the first test between India and Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens ended in a draw, after a dramatic, tense and gruelling final hour of the final day Monday, many Indian fans on social media blamed Virat Kohli for his late declaration. However, it has emerged that it was team India’s coach Ravi Shastri who convinced Kohli to go for his century, before the declaration.
On a fifth day pitch, Kohli led his team from the front, as he fought hard to take a decent lead of 231 runs by hitting a magnificent century off 119 balls.
However, there was a moment in the match when Kohli looked toward the dressing room and sought suggestion whether to declare the inning. He was batting on 86 when he signalled to the dressing room. But Ravi Shastri decided against declaring and asked Kohli to score ’20 runs more’ and get his century.
Kohli went on to signal Shastri to send a player with the message. Following that, Ravi Shastri sent his message to the ground via a substitute fielder.
Later, Virat rode to get his 50th international hundred and guided India to take a lead of 230 runs.
Sri Lanka needed to chase down a target of 231 runs. The Indian bowlers struck brutally as the Lankans were reduced to 0/1 followed by 2/2 and then concluded on 8/2 at the Tea Break. In the third session, India managed to pluck five more wickets and would have taken the rest three if the match hadn’t interrupted due to bad light. The match ended in a draw.
After the match, team India’s opener KL Rahul also said had another six overs been available, India could have won the Test.
“These are the kind of matches you look forward to. We could have made a match out of it if we had five or six overs more” Rahul said at the post-match media conference.
