Kohli: My greatest Game

Article by AP

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) – A disappointing loss to Australia wasn’t enough to change India stand-in skipper Virat Kohli’s impression of the first cricket Test.

He called it the greatest game he’s played.

Kohli led a bold run chase on the final day today, but India lost by 48 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

Kohli’s highest test score, 141, which raised hopes of an unlikely India win, made him just the fourth cricketer from his country to score centuries in each innings of a Test.

“If we were able to pull this off, today would have been one of the most special moments in my life,” Kohli said. “But I’m really proud of the way the boys played. And no regrets, my greatest game.”

Kohli wasn’t disappointed, just “a little bit hurt because of the fact that we couldn’t cross the line when it looked pretty bright for us. At no point did we back off”.

Kohli, subbing for regular captain M.S. Dhoni, who missed the first Test while he recovers from a left hand injury, said he never considered not going for the total of 364 runs Australia set for victory from 98 overs on the final day.

India was 105-2 at lunch and 205-2 at tea, but Nathan Lyon took seven wickets. Dhoni is expected to return to the captaincy for the second Test in Brisbane starting Wednesday, which suits Kohli just fine.

Summarised scores:

Australia 515-7 dec’d (Steven Smith 162 not out, David Warner 145, Michael Clarke 128; Mohammed Shami 2-120) and 290-5 dec’d (David Warner 102, Steve Smith 52 not out; Karn Sharma 2-95). India 444 (Virat Kohli 115, Cheteshwar Pujara 73, Ajinkya Rahane 62, Murali Vijay 53; Nathan Lyon 5-134) and 315 (Virat Kohli 141, Murali Vijay 99; Nathan Lyon 7-152). Australia won by 48 runs.