India’s stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah lauded Virat Kohli’s exceptional century in the second innings of the Perth Test, which was instrumental in India’s resounding 295-run victory against Australia on November 25. Kohli silenced critics with a resilient 143-ball 100, a timely knock that reaffirmed his stature in Test cricket and helped India secure a commanding 1-0 lead in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Kohli had faced scrutiny for his inability to convert promising starts into impactful Test innings in recent times. After managing just five runs in India’s dismal first-innings total of 150, the spotlight was firmly on him. However, his remarkable century came in a pressure situation, complementing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 161 and KL Rahul’s gritty 77, both of whom set the tone with their 201-run partnership. Bumrah, speaking at the post-match press conference, emphasised Kohli’s invaluable experience and the boost his performance provides to the team.
“I have said this before that Virat Kohli doesn’t need us, it is we who need Virat Kohli. He is an experienced player, his 4th or 5th tour, so he knows best what his batting and calibre is like. Sometimes when you have a career this long and you play in so many tough scenarios that he has played in, performing in every match becomes a bit difficult. But he was always looking in great space in this match,” Bumrah said.
“Obviously he got a great delivery in the first innings, but he was still in great space and he capitalised in the second innings. The second innings we needed an experienced batter who plays good himself and also allows the other batter to play freely. If at the start of the series a player like him gets some confidence, you cannot ask for anything more,” he addedd.
