Indian cricket's golden boy was seen jumping on his feet at the far end every time a wicket fell. He was screaming, signalling and even carrying drinks on the field as and when he felt the need to interact with his boys.
Virat Kohli wanted to take the field for the final Test against Australia, whatever the cost, till the last minute before the toss on Saturday. Having been part of Team India for 54 consecutive Tests since the West Indies series in 2011, Kohli wasn't keen to sit out at a juncture when the fate of the series was hanging in balance.
After reaching the ground on Saturday morning, Kohli was seen warming up with his boys, giving indications that he was gearing up to lead the team. The India captain then faced a few deliveries and told the team physio and orthopaedic specialist, Dr Srikanth Narayanan – who was specially flown in from Bengaluru – about his shoulder's condition.
A brief discussion with Dr Narayanan appeared to have forced him to change his mind. Kohli was apparently told that his shoulder wasn't 100 per cent fit to take the load, and that he couldn't risk aggravating it.
Going by what Kohli said on the eve of the game that he would play the Test only if he was "100 per cent fit", he was left with no choice but to follow the expert's advice.
And that was the signal for Ajinkya Rahane to wear the official blue blazer and go out for the toss. The Mumbaikar thus became India's 33rd Test captain.
"Virat was shattered," a team official said. "He wanted to play badly in what he thought was the most challenging outing during his captaincy," the official added.
Another reason why Kohli was eager to play was his failure to deliver with the bat in the last three Tests against Australia. His scores of 0,13,12,15 and 6 in the last five innings were prompting him to go in and play an impactful innings this series.
Unfortunately, though, the injury that he sustained during the Ranchi Test while stopping a boundary at wide long on failed to recover in time.
This was the first time that the Delhi-based skipper missed a Test in his career due to injury. However, the 28-year-old didn't take the setback to heart. He knew how important his presence on the sidelines was as the hosts were asked to bowl first on a wicket which looked good for batting.
Indian cricket's golden boy was seen jumping on his feet at the far end every time a wicket fell. He was screaming, signalling and even carrying drinks on the field as and when he felt the need to interact with his boys.
He received due appreciation from a small but loud crowd at India's latest Test centre.
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Ajinkya Rahane became India's 33rd Test captain when he walked out for the toss on Saturday
DID YOU KNOW?
Virat Kohli has been part of the playing XI in 54 consecutive Tests since the West Indies series in 2011
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