Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan should learn from Virat Kohli to finish matches: Virender Sehwag

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has heaped praise on Virat Kohli after his match-winning fifty against England in the second T20I. All eyes were on the India skipper when he came out to bat on Sunday after being dismissed for a five-ball duck in the first game. And just when the critics were gearing up to take shots at him, Kohli came up with a sublime knock.

The 32-year old walked out to bat in just the second over after Sam Curran dismissed KL Rahul for a six-ball duck in the first over. But the early wicket did not put much pressure on him as he played a fine knock of 73 not out to help India chase down 164 with ease. India won the game by seven wickets to draw level in the series.

Kohli’s 49-ball knock was laced with five fours and three sixes. Along with him, debutant Ishan Kishan also impressed by scoring a whirlwind fifty. Opening the innings, Kishan scored 56 off just 32 balls with the help of five fours and four sixes. But unlike Kohli, Kishan could not stay till the end to make sure India cross the finishing line with ease.

Sehwag praises Virat Kohli

Impressed with Virat Kohli’s match-winning fifty, Virender Sehwag lavished praise on him. Sehwag pointed out that the Indian skipper makes the most of his form with the bat by staying at the crease till the end. He also urged youngsters like Kishan and Rishabh Pant to learn from their skipper. The batting legend further revealed that Sachin Tendulkar used to do the same.

“When it’s Virat Kohli’s days, he ensures he finishes the match and is right there till the end, irrespective of the format he is batting in. This is a special aspect about his batting. Like Ajay (Jadeja) said, Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan should learn from Kohli, that when it’s your day, just don’t get out. That’s exactly what Tendulkar used to do,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

“He used to tell me ‘if today is a good day for you, then play as long as you can, remain not out and score runs’ because what kind of day you have tomorrow, whether you’ll score runs, is not known. But today you know the way you’re playing, the ball is appearing like a football. So make the most of it and stay not out because it’s important.

“This holds true for both Pant and Kishan, more so for Pant because when he came out to bat, he had hit a six and a four in that over. Had he rotated the strike, waited for the bad balls, the match could have been over sooner,” he added.