Follow UsVirat Kohli is already owning the World Cup and how! Batting for the fifth time in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup. Kohli scored his fourth fifty-plus score and steered the run-chase in the only fashion he knows. Sure, he fell short by five runs from scoring his 49th ODI century, but that was enough for the side to secure their fifth consecutive victory as well.
When New Zealand’s batting hero Daryl Mitchell was asked if Kohli’s innings was the eventual difference, he couldn’t help but sing the words of praise for the former Indian skipper.
“He's a world-class player and he'll go down as one of the greats of the game for a reason,” Mitchell said in the post-match press conference. “A very good knock under pressure, I thought and although he didn't get 100, he got his team across the line.
“But yeah, look for us as Kiwis, we'll just keep throwing punches, we'll keep trying different things, and we'll keep trying to take wickets, and I'm just really proud of our bowling unit tonight and how they tried to do that for periods of time and in conditions which probably got better with the dew with the wicket so yeah for us really proud of our efforts and we look forward to taking on the Aussies in just under a week's time.”
Kuldeep Yadav has been very successful for India in the ongoing tournament and on slow wickets, his deception has worked like a charm. However, Mitchell decided to take him on by stepping down the track pretty often, and that worked. Despite the apparent danger that comes with stepping out against a wrist-spinner, Mitchell was glad that option worked for him in Dharamsala.
“I've known Kuldeep for a while now, he's a great man and we get on well off the field and yeah for me, it's just keep trying to find ways to put pressure on their bowlers, it's not just him it's the same with every bowler that we come up against. It's trying to find ways to put pressure on them and also absorb when they're bowling really well and keep trying to, I guess, tick over and build that platform that we speak about. So, yeah, look, he's done really well over the last few years for India and it's awesome to see him have some success.
“Look, I guess when you're playing anyone, it's about, again, trying to find ways to put pressure on them as well as accept that at times they're going to bowl well. And you come in with plans, you come up with ways you want to play different guys.
“And for me today, that was obviously an option that worked. That doesn't mean I'll do it next time. But yeah, look, it's just constantly trying to find ways to score runs and keep putting us in positions to win games of cricket,” Mitchell added.