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The Delhi boy stepped into his home ground with twice the Kohliesque swagger


image-lecik2maKohli striding out after first session on Day 2 of Delhi Test

Virat looked good. It's an overused statement. Virat always looks good. But nowadays, Virat Kohli himself isn't able to live up to the Virat Kohli expectation. 

Although after a year or so, at least in Test cricket, Virat batted like Virat used to do. No doubt, he chose his beloved Delhi to regain his true self with the MRF willow in hand. His stay shut his critics down using the aura made by some thousands of people present inside a teensy-weensy Kotla to his advantage.

Virat was confident in judging the drift and length of the ball - two things on which he has struggled of late, at least against spinners. But the nostalgic feeling of his city was enough for him to flaunt his old self.

There's no brainer that Virat had to return back to his voguish groove, but he chose to do so using the chant of thousands in Kotla and the strength of heavenly body around the stadium.

The innings of 44 and 20 may not justify the stature he carries, but he truly told that the technical flaw and the mental block wouldn't stop the Number 18 anymore.

It also let all of us know that Test century number 28 is around the corner.


Delhi boy’s Kotla mission

Apart from two off-break bowlers, Australia brought a newly-tinted tweaker in Matthew Kuhnemann, a left-armer. Just like his last name's pronunciation, Kuhnemann's line and length were hard to tackle. And coupled with his left-arm angle, he had all the ingredients to wipe the Indian batting.

image-led2tvz2Kohli batted extreamly against spinners in Delhi

But to India's relief, Virat started reading the Aussie tweakers off their hands after the team was four down in no time. He was precise on whether to hang back or press forward. Also, the Delhi-grown used his wrists beautifully, whipping them from behind square leg to long-on.

He neither was going for the fancy drives for the feel-good factor, nor did he get any juicy half-volley. 

He knew where his off-stump was, and he trusted his defence. 

Although, in both innings, he got out while defending the ball - once on a debatable call and then stumped for the first time in Tests - but the King declared his return at his forte. 

Every run was celebrated, every boundary hit off his MRF willow was treated as a match-winning hit, and even fends off his bat was priceless for his mesmerizers. He imbibed the atmosphere made by the Delhi crowd to his strength. 


Delhi brought Chiku out of Virat

In the lead-up to the Delhi Test, his admirers came in favour of the former Indian captain after the ex-Chief Selector's recent scandal. 

Allegedly, internal politics threw Virat out of the captaincy reigns. Suddenly, that whole episode rewinded, questions were asked again, and salt was poured on his still-healing wounds.

image-led2v428Kohli talking to KL Rahul during the first day of second BGT Test

What would a level-headed Virat have done? 

An emotional version of his may have typed another note on his phone and put the screenshot of it on his social media, but the batter inside him took care of the situation and let the MRF do all the talking. 

Again, numbers would lie and say he’s averaging just over 25 in this series. But the King visited a mirror museum at Delhi, where a young Chiku inside him must have taught him a lesson.


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image-led2x6owKohli got LBW out to a debatable umpiring decision

Just like any other cricketer, Virat has seen ups and lows in his 16-year-long career. Becoming the only Indian after Sir Sachin Tendulkar to notch over 25000 international runs is no joke. He has seen steeps, and no one can forget the forgettable English tour of 2014; the ODI master had a low phase in 2015 as well, and teams like Australia and New Zealand have got better off Mr Consistent time and again. 

But as Virat has said once - nothing teaches you more than failures. 

This lean patch of three years has made the dasher more spiritual. It has told him that Cricket is the ultimate boss. It must have reminded him a key lesson - of which he has been the chief endorser - that when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

The chapter about bouncing back in Virat’s illustrious book has already started to ink. And the narration of it began at his home - Delhi.