Kohli's mind is like a computer: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar feels that MS Dhoni’s 91 ball 80 runs effort at Mohali last night was equal to his glorious knock during the 2015 World Cup final against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium. Gavaskar appreciated his innings saying Dhoni’s intent in the 3rd ODI was quite similar to the way he batted during the understood in the importance of the situation on Sunday night and accordingly, came up the order.

“Yes. The intent was there, just like in the finals. Knowing that Murali was bowling and that he picked him well since they played for the same IPL franchise at the time, so he had got used to his style of bowling. He took the responsibility upon him and eventually proved that move was right.

“Today too he realised that India could not afford to lose to New Zealand because it would have been very tough to come back. He knew that his experience was what was needed out in the middle. Manish Pandey is a very fine player, make no mistake about it. I think he, Kedar Jadhav are some of India’s fine young players. But think he realised that Manish can get carried away at that stage and if another wicket falls, then there could a little bit of tension.

“The Kohli – Dhoni partnership was so good. The way they were running between the wickets as well. The understanding when they came at the end of the over and I felt sorry when he got out for 80 because he deserved a 100 as well,” Gavaskar said.

Gavaskar also praised Virat Kohli for his superb knock of 154 not out that saw India comfortably chase the target.

“What pleases everybody and particularly me is that there are no crude shots that he plays in the run-chase. You see him play all cricketing shots. There is no crude slogging, no shots that would make a purist cringe. I think that is the beauty about his batting.”

“His mind is like a computer. He knows exactly where the fielders, where he can hit the ball away from the fielder,” Gavaskar told NDTV on Sunday.