'When I went in I decided to be positive' - Virat Kohli comments on his significant fifty in 2nd WI T20I

Virat Kohli finally roared back to form by scoring a match-winning half-century in the second T20I against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday, February 18. Kohli’s bat had failed to make an impact heading into this contest having managed just 26 runs in three ODIs including a duck and 17 in the first T20I a couple of days ago. This was also the 33-year-old’s 30th fifty in the shortest format of the game. His knock helped the Men In Blue take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli seemed to have heaved a sigh of relief while speaking on his important innings after the match. He mentioned that he was really happy with the positive intent shown by him at the crease and at the same time also made it clear that it has always been an opportunity to bat well in different situations for the Indian team.

I wanted to continue in the same way: Virat Kohli

“For me, it’s always been an opportunity to bat well in different situations for the team, today when I went in I decided to be positive, then we lost a few wickets,” said Kohli during the post-match interview.

“I wanted to continue in the same way, probably disappointed to get out at the time I did because I set up the game nicely for me to go hard in the last 4-5 overs which is the way I bat, which is my strength. I was happy that I went out with clear intent today, not thinking so much about whether I should try my shots or not and it came off. It’s a nice way to start that innings for myself,” he added.

After the batting megastar’s dismissal for 52, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and Venkatesh Iyer steadied the ship for India. Pant scored a quickfire 52 runs off 28 deliveries while Iyer scored an 18-ball 33 as the Men In Blue posted 186/5 from their 20 overs. In reply, the Windies after being reduced to 59/2 in the ninth over showed a great fightback as Nicholas Pooran (62) and Rovman Powell (68*) added 100 runs for the third wicket stand.

An impactful penultimate over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar backed by a tight final over from Harshal Patel helped India come out on top by 8 runs.