Our first-class structure is amazing and that has helped the bowlers: Virat Kohli

A pumped-up Virat Kohli was amazing to watch at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the overcast Sunday morning. the first session washed out to bring the jangling nerves into play but things got better in the afternoon. It took only 27 deliveries for India to wrap things up and take a 2-1 lead in the series. A happy captain after the match was all praise of his bowlers and credited the first-class structure back in India for their exceptional performance this year.

2018 has been the best year by a long distance for the Indian fast bowlers as the pace trio of Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah wreaked havoc in South Africa, England and now in Australia. They picked as many as 158 wickets this year together away from home and skittled the oppositions 25 out of 27 times in all Test matches in 2018.

Moreover, Kerry O’Keeffe‘s comments on the Indian domestic structure had created a lot of stir which is why the Indian captain seems to have credited the Ranji Trophy for the bowlers’ success. Even Bumrah was all praise about the same saying that bowling in conditions which don’t offer much help made them the better bowlers in the longer format.

“Our first class cricket structure is amazing. The tough conditions with the new ball make bowlers hard and bowling with the old ball proved to be a difference in this match,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

We are ready for the Sydney Test

A chuffed up Virat Kohli after the victory stressed the importance of winning the series and cleared that they aren’t going to be complacent having retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. “We are not going to stop here. This (win) will give us more confidence and we will play more positively in Sydney. the job is not done yet. It’s not finished at all. We want to win the last Test match as well if an opportunity comes our way. We don’t want to be complacent. We are all but ready for the final Test match,” the Indian skipper added.

The 30-year-old was also all praise about the debutant Mayank Agarwal who was exceptional scoring 76 and 42 runs in the first outings for the country. He also acknowledged Hanuma Vihari’s role at the top who played out as many as 68 balls on the first morning of the Test.

“Mayank Agarwal was amazing, he showed great character. His composure was excellent. Pujara was brilliant too. No one is looking for a personal milestone. Vihari played out the first 15 overs against the new ball which was pretty helpful too.

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