India v England: Virat Kohli is making batting look easy on a tricky pitch, says Nasser Hussain
Sunday 20 November 2016 14:49, UK
'Virat Kohli looks as though he is playing on a different pitch to the other batsmen, such is the ease with which he is scoring runs,' says Nasser Hussain.
The India skipper took full advantage of favourable batting conditions during the hosts' first innings, hitting 167, and while the pitch has broken up to making batting significantly more difficult, Kohli has appeared equally assured second time around.
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England's bowlers struggled to cause him any real problems in Visakhapatnam as he advanced to 56 not out at the close of day three.
"He was incredible," Hussain told Sky Sports. "Looking ahead to tomorrow and day five, the rhythm of batting is going to get harder and harder, the run rate is only going in one direction.
"Batting is getting trickier for everyone - apart from Virat Kohli, he played quite brilliantly. Against seam, swing, reverse swing, spin, he was just so relaxed, so busy and he kept the scoreboard ticking over.
"He averaged 20 against England going into this series, James Anderson was all over him and England had a plan to him - those plans have disappeared on these pitches."
Kohli's half-century means that India, having bowled England out for 255, head into day four with a lead of 298.
With the pitch expected to continue deteriorating as the match goes on, some would argue that India already have a large enough lead to defend and all eyes will be on Kohli on day four to see if and when he makes the declaration.
"It's not straightforward but I reckon the best thing that could happen for India tomorrow is that they get bowled out," Hussain argued.
"If they're bowled out by lunch tomorrow with a 350-plus lead, maybe up towards 400, they get five sessions to bowl at England.
"I can't see a side chasing down 380 on that pitch. You can survive but you can't score at a rate enough to chase it. I still think they'll need time to bowl England out but the seamers are going low, the spinners are going low, Ravindra Jadeja is going to be a threat, Ravichandra Ashwin is a threat - India hold all the cards."
Live coverage of the second Test between India and England from Visakhapatnam continues with day four, on Sky Sports 2 from 3.45am on Sunday.
