In the highly awaited Test series between India and South Africa, the spotlight was on Virat Kohli and Kagiso Rabada. The fans eagerly anticipated the showdown between these two cricket superstars, both crucial to their teams’ prospects in the series.
When Virat Kohli and Kagiso Rabada faced off, they both gave and received punches in equal measure. Virat Kohli has an average of 58.3 against Rabada in Test cricket, scoring 215 runs, and Rabada has dismissed him four times.
With the series underway and Rabada winning the first encounter, let’s revisit some memorable battles in Test matches between these two outstanding performers. Here are the top three face-offs between Kagiso Rabada and Virat Kohli:
#1 Cape Town, 2021
On a field covered in plenty of grass to create extra bounce and sideways movement, batting first was inherently difficult for the visiting team. With India struggling at 33/2, they once again looked to Virat Kohli to save them, particularly against the formidable pace of Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier.
Rabada opened with a bouncer, pushing Kohli back, and then tempted him with fuller deliveries, exploiting Kohli’s recent weakness of getting out while driving. Kohli’s uncertainty led to a faint edge to the boundary.
This delivery heightened Virat’s awareness of the pitch’s bounce and pace. He adjusted his approach, leaving deliveries around the off-stump, playing with precision to reach a measured half-century. However, due to a lack of support from teammates, he eventually played a delivery he had been avoiding throughout his innings.
#2 Centurion, 2023
In this inning, Virat Kohli displayed a strong defensive and stroke-playing performance. He adeptly played inside the line of the ball, executed late shots, and covered the initial swing and bounce on a cloudy morning at Centurion.
Kagiso Rabada, who had been accurate throughout the morning, challenged Shreyas Iyer with bouncers and dismissed him with a wobble-seam delivery that nipped back. Rabada aimed to test Virat’s defense as well with his diverse bowling variations.
Kohli was displaying effective leave-taking skills, indicating a good understanding of his off stump’s position, which posed a challenge for the Proteas. The brilliance of Kohli was neutralizing the impact of the key South African bowler. However, Rabada then delivered an exceptional, peach of a delivery.
Rabada bowled a good-length delivery that moved away from Virat Kohli after initially coming in. Kohli, already committed to his shot, got an edge, and Kyle Verreyne, the wicketkeeper, happily caught it.
#3 Centurion, 2018
South Africa, with a potent pace attack of Morkel, Philander, Rabada, and Ngidi, dominated the series by winning the first two Tests. Despite this, Virat Kohli’s notable performance stood out in the second Test.
Despite a challenging situation for the visitors, South Africa scored 335 in the first innings. Virat Kohli, however, showcased dominant batting, seemingly at ease on a surface that differed from the rest.
While the pitch wasn’t the most challenging, South African bowlers, especially Rabada, persisted with a probing line and lengths, testing Virat’s inclination to drive. Yet, Virat navigated this challenge effectively.
Rabada aimed to unsettle Virat with bouncers, but Virat’s tactical pulls, keeping the ball grounded, frustrated the plan. This tactical battle resulted in Virat scoring a memorable century, providing India a competitive edge. Morne Morkel eventually dismissed Virat after he had already scored 153 runs.
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