• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Two Three Balls Hit His Helmet Sanjay Bangar On Virat Kohlis Preparation Before Centurion Classic Of 2018

'Two, Three Balls Hit His Helmet' - Sanjay Bangar On Virat Kohli's Preparation Before Centurion Classic Of 2018

image-lqlwsindKohli is regarded as one of the best batters of his time (x.com)

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar made an interesting revelation on Virat Kohli ahead of the build-up to the first Test match between India and South Africa at Centurion. Banger claims that following the Test series defeat to the Proteas in 2018, Kohli has been a lot more determined to face the fiery thunderbolts in the nets that are supposedly a lot quicker than anticipated.

Bangar was the then-batting coach for Team India during the 2018 Test series with Kohli being the red-ball captain at that time. Despite going down by 2-1 in that series, Kohli was arguably the best standout performer for Team India with the bat. But the chase master did not make a promising start to the series and was severely tormented by Morne Morkel in the first Test.

In an interview with Star Sports prior to the Test series between India and South Africa, Bangar elucidated on Kohli's unwavering courage in confronting deliveries that posed a significant risk of causing him injury.

"When he got out to Morne Morkel in the Cape Town Test, he was dejected. He was keen on preparing well for the second Test. For that, he was facing up to express pace, I have rarely seen someone prepare like that. Two or three balls hit his helmet."

Furthermore, Sanjay Bangar also explained how Kohli single-handedly kept the visitors alive in that series. He stated that Kohli carried the entire burden of his team on his shoulders and trained enormously hard in the nets to make himself better prepared to face the Proteas quicks.

Virat Kohli concluded the 2018 Test series on a high note with a staggering 286 runs to his name. The Indian think tank would be hoping to see Kohli flourish with the same intensity that he did during the 2018 Test series. Moreover, it will also be Kohli’s first appearance in international cricket since the 2023 World Cup final which ended on a sour note for the home side.