Kohli passes huge statement on concussion substitutes: The Indian captain was vocal about the newly formed rule in Test cricket.
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India captain Virat Kohli believes that batsman Hanuma Vihari has been the “find of the series” for India. Having scored 289 runs in two Tests at an average of 96.33 and a strike rate of 59.58, Vihari finished the series as its highest run-scorer.
Batting at No. 6, Vihari was part of several game-changing partnerships for India throughout the series. The right hand batsman was also seen scoring his maiden Test century in the series. “I think the find of the series has to be Hanuma Vihari. The way he has batted under pressure especially.
Congratulations to Hanuma Vihari for scoring his maiden test century in the second test against the West Indies and Jasprit Bumrah for claiming a hat-trick and becoming only the third Indian bowler to achieve the feat in tests.#TeamIndia @Hanumavihari pic.twitter.com/ScVUEAPjS0
— VicePresidentOfIndia (@VPSecretariat) September 1, 2019
“And on a much more challenging wicket here in Jamaica than in Antigua, I think his skills set were outstanding, his temperament and techniques were top notch and he countered everything the oppositions threw at him. So very, very pleased with the way he has come about,” Kohli was quoted as saying during the post-match press conference.
Virat Kohli passes huge statement on concussion substitutes
The last day of the series also witnessed West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood becoming the second concussion substitute in Test cricket. The development meant that West Indies fielded 12 batsmen in one innings – a first time in Test cricket.
Despite the positive intention behind the newly-formed rule, it has been received criticism on various fronts. Being asked about the same, Kohli cited an example from IPL 2019 and cited concussion injuries to be “dangerous”.
“It’s very different because on that day you can play but when you come out the next day it’s a different situation altogether. AB [de Villiers] got hit in the IPL this year, against Mumbai [Indians], against Jasprit [Bumrah] and then on the night he played and he was fine.
“And the next day he was dizzy waking up. If a guy has had a bad hit, that next day is critical and if he is not in a good shape, you cannot put out a guy when he is dizzy, it can get dangerous,” Kohli said.