In the 65th match of the IPL 2023 series held in Hyderabad yesterday, Virat Kohli scored a brilliant century for Sunrisers and brightened RCB’s playoff chances. Kohli has also announced that he has returned to his mainstay, Pharm. Following this, Ricky Ponting has warned Australia to be cautious in the World Test Championship final.
Virat Kohli scored 100 runs off 63 balls with 12 fours and 4 sixes. Virat Kohli also put an end to the criticism that he was playing sluggishly after the power play. Having said this, we should also mention one more thing. Hyderabad bowling was a team without good quality spinners and nothing on pace. Hyderabad skipper Markram has sparked a huge controversy when he said that why Umran Malik is being sat out is a mystery and he doesn’t know what is going on behind the scenes.
However, it is Kohli’s ability to play without changing his basic batting strategies for any format that still makes him a dangerous player for the world teams in Test matches. With this century, it is not to say that he will turn Australia upside down. We are not talking about Kohli’s form just by bowling to Hyderabad’s Tosh.
However, what is most important is Kohli’s confidence as a seasoned player that his batting is back to its old perfection. For a legend like Kohli to return to such confidence, it shows that he is ready for a big 2nd innings before he retires from world cricket.
However, Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting has warned Australia ahead of the final: “I spoke to Virat Kohli when we played in Bangalore. We were talking about his batting and where he is in his career. What he then told me was that he was back to full form. We saw that in his century against Sunrisers yesterday. So expect the prize the Australians are looking for to be a wicket-keeper.
It will be an interesting final against India’s top order and Australia’s bowling. “I expect the spin on the 4th or 5th day to be favorable for the pitch at the Oval, where the competition is usually Indian spinners and Australian batsmen,” said Ponting.
