Indian red-ball skipper Virat Kohli hit a ‘rare’ six during the day one of the ongoing third Test match between India and hosts South Africa in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Kohli’s six came off a pull shot of Kagiso Rabada’s bouncer in the 41st over. It was also the visitor’s first maximum of the match.
During his gritty half century, Kohli hit 12 boundaries and one six. This was also Kohli’s fifth six in Test cricket since 2019. Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant have had contrasting fortunes to hit maximums, when compared to India’s Test captain. During the same period, while Rohit smashed as many as 51 sixes, Mayank bagged 25 and Pant hit 18 maximums.
Interestingly during the same period even pacer and lower order batsman Umesh Yadav has hit more sixes than Kohli, registering as many as 11 maximums in 155 balls.
Notably India were bowled out for 223 in their first innings of the series decider Test with only Kohli (79, 201b, 12x4, 1x6) scoring a gritty half century.
In reply the Proteas were 17 for the loss of one wicket in their first essay at stumps on day one.
(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)