The audacious Mr Kohli
Plays of the day from the first ODI between India and England in Pune
Alan Gardner
15-Jan-2017
Few batsmen could have pulled off the kind of six Virat Kohli hit off a slower, back-of-length delivery from Chris Woakes • AFP
The review
One less-explored conspiracy theory about MS Dhoni giving up the India limited-overs captaincy is that he didn't want to deal with the hassle of DRS. India accepted the system for England's tour, beginning with the Tests, and that made this the first bilateral ODI series in the country to feature reviews. Only one per innings is on offer in this format but Jason Roy was glad for it after being given out lbw by umpire CK Nandan when he had 18 to his name; while the ball was shown to have struck him in line with leg stump, Hawk-Eye projected that it would have missed by a good margin.
One less-explored conspiracy theory about MS Dhoni giving up the India limited-overs captaincy is that he didn't want to deal with the hassle of DRS. India accepted the system for England's tour, beginning with the Tests, and that made this the first bilateral ODI series in the country to feature reviews. Only one per innings is on offer in this format but Jason Roy was glad for it after being given out lbw by umpire CK Nandan when he had 18 to his name; while the ball was shown to have struck him in line with leg stump, Hawk-Eye projected that it would have missed by a good margin.
The review II
Dhoni went on to demonstrate he was plenty au fait with the technology when Eoin Morgan was given not out by Nandan on 28. Dhoni had collected what he recognised was a thin edge off Hardik Pandya's bowling, Morgan trying to run the ball off the face, and threw the ball up in celebration only to see the umpire unmoved. Pandya had also begun to celebrate and, as Virat Kohli rushed in to consult with his players, Dhoni immediately signalled for the review. Kohli did not hesitate in taking his predecessor's direction and moments later Nandan was overturning another decision.
Dhoni went on to demonstrate he was plenty au fait with the technology when Eoin Morgan was given not out by Nandan on 28. Dhoni had collected what he recognised was a thin edge off Hardik Pandya's bowling, Morgan trying to run the ball off the face, and threw the ball up in celebration only to see the umpire unmoved. Pandya had also begun to celebrate and, as Virat Kohli rushed in to consult with his players, Dhoni immediately signalled for the review. Kohli did not hesitate in taking his predecessor's direction and moments later Nandan was overturning another decision.
The direct hit
England had got off to a useful start, mainly thanks to Roy's aggression. His opening partner, Alex Hales, was content to take his time - but he took a little too much when responding to a call for a second run in the seventh over. Roy had turned the ball towards deep square leg and was intent on coming back for two but Hales stopped momentarily at the striker's end. That gave Jasprit Bumrah, who had sprinted up from fine leg, the tiniest window through which to defenestrate Hales, who realised the danger but could not beat a direct hit (though a full-length dive might have helped). The stumps were obscured from both sides, by Kohli and umpire Nandan, but the zing bails helped confirm that Hales only had his bat on the line, not over.
England had got off to a useful start, mainly thanks to Roy's aggression. His opening partner, Alex Hales, was content to take his time - but he took a little too much when responding to a call for a second run in the seventh over. Roy had turned the ball towards deep square leg and was intent on coming back for two but Hales stopped momentarily at the striker's end. That gave Jasprit Bumrah, who had sprinted up from fine leg, the tiniest window through which to defenestrate Hales, who realised the danger but could not beat a direct hit (though a full-length dive might have helped). The stumps were obscured from both sides, by Kohli and umpire Nandan, but the zing bails helped confirm that Hales only had his bat on the line, not over.
The drop that didn't matter
Bumrah fared less well delivering the ball over 22 yards and he sent down three high no-balls, the last of which might have cost him the wicket of Ben Stokes - if it had been caught. Swinging for the fences during the death overs, Stokes got a big top edge that flew towards Hardik Pandya coming in from long-off. Pandya left the catch to Kohli running back, which was a much harder take and he dropped it over his head, with Pandya unable to take the rebound either. But the umpire's outstretched hand told them the effort was for nothing. Bumrah was able to continue bowling, though, as none of the no-balls was considered dangerous by the umpires.
Bumrah fared less well delivering the ball over 22 yards and he sent down three high no-balls, the last of which might have cost him the wicket of Ben Stokes - if it had been caught. Swinging for the fences during the death overs, Stokes got a big top edge that flew towards Hardik Pandya coming in from long-off. Pandya left the catch to Kohli running back, which was a much harder take and he dropped it over his head, with Pandya unable to take the rebound either. But the umpire's outstretched hand told them the effort was for nothing. Bumrah was able to continue bowling, though, as none of the no-balls was considered dangerous by the umpires.
The six
England cleared the ropes 11 times in their innings but none had quite the same stamp of authority as Kohli's first. India were 15 for 1 in the opening Powerplay and Kohli had faced three legitimate deliveries when he skipped out to David Willey and hammered a cross-batted stroke several rows back into the stands at wide long-on. The report of the bat told you how clean the hit was and the noise immediately rose by several decibels as the ball was swallowed by a sea of blue.
England cleared the ropes 11 times in their innings but none had quite the same stamp of authority as Kohli's first. India were 15 for 1 in the opening Powerplay and Kohli had faced three legitimate deliveries when he skipped out to David Willey and hammered a cross-batted stroke several rows back into the stands at wide long-on. The report of the bat told you how clean the hit was and the noise immediately rose by several decibels as the ball was swallowed by a sea of blue.
The six II
Having reached his hundred (with a six), Kohli pulled out an even more extraordinary shot. Chris Woakes might have thought his back-of-a-length slower ball would be difficult to hit - and most batsmen might have settled for a paddled single. Kohli is not most batsmen, however, and he simply drew himself up and extended the arms through a lofted drive over long-on. Never mind playing the shot, it was difficult even to conceive.
Having reached his hundred (with a six), Kohli pulled out an even more extraordinary shot. Chris Woakes might have thought his back-of-a-length slower ball would be difficult to hit - and most batsmen might have settled for a paddled single. Kohli is not most batsmen, however, and he simply drew himself up and extended the arms through a lofted drive over long-on. Never mind playing the shot, it was difficult even to conceive.
The silence
KL Rahul had struck one impressive back-foot force off Willey but he was undone in the same over that Kohli had turned the volume up. Stepping out to drive down the ground, he left enough of a gap between bat and pad for Willey to bring the ball in with the angle from round the wicket and flatten middle stump. The stadium fell silent as Willey, who had gone four ODIs without taking a wicket, celebrated his second in as many overs.
KL Rahul had struck one impressive back-foot force off Willey but he was undone in the same over that Kohli had turned the volume up. Stepping out to drive down the ground, he left enough of a gap between bat and pad for Willey to bring the ball in with the angle from round the wicket and flatten middle stump. The stadium fell silent as Willey, who had gone four ODIs without taking a wicket, celebrated his second in as many overs.
Alan Gardner is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick