South African star players shower praises on Virat Kohli ahead of Centurion Test

In the realm of South African cricket, Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, and Marco Jansen showered commendations upon Virat Kohli, as they lauded his unwavering contribution as a linchpin in India's cricketing trinity—Test, ODI, and T20 formats—over the last six formidable years. Bavuma emphasized that in discussions of threats posed by the Indian batting lineup, discounting Virat Kohli is an untenable oversight.

Markram extolled Kohli's distinguishing trait: his unyielding competitive spirit, and emphasised the perpetual flame of ambition that fuels Kohli's relentless pursuit of success. Jansen, in his appraisal, acknowledged the challenge of bowling to Kohli and cited the former Indian skipper's acute understanding of his own strengths and vulnerabilities. 

“The biggest threat in the Indian batting lineup, you obviously can’t rule out Virat Kohli. He has played here quite a number of times, so we’ll say that he understands the conditions,” Bavuma was quoted as saying on Star Sports.

“He is a fierce competitor. We might not always be the most skilful people, but to always try to fight out and compete, have more hunger than you’ve been playing against,” Markram said.

“Bowling to Virat Kohli is tough because he knows what he is doing, and he knows what his strengths and weaknesses are,” Jansen added.

Virat Kohli’s captivating record in Tests in South Africa

The star India batter will find himself in the heart of South Africa, poised to grace a two-match Test series. The inaugural clash will kick off on December 26 at Centurion's SuperSport Park. India's historical foray in South Africa has spanned 23 Tests, and yielded four victories, while they have succumbed to 12 defeats, and settled for seven draws. The recent triumph at SuperSport Park in 2021 will stand as a beacon of hope for the visiting Indian squad.

As a standout performer in the Indian Test cricket landscape, the Delhi batter secures the fourth position among the leading run-scorers. The 35-year-old boasts a stellar record, amassing 719 runs across seven matches, with an average of 51.35 and a notable strike rate of 50.07 in South Africa. His repertoire includes two centuries and three half-centuries, cementing his pivotal role in India's Test aspirations.