Virat Kohli’s bold move to bat first in the third and final T20I on Sunday backfired as Quinton de Kock guided South Africa to a series-leveling nine-wicket win.
To everyone’s surprise, Kohli opted to bat first after winning the toss on M. Chinnaswamy’s surface, alwa♔ys kಌnown to favour the teams chasing in the shortest format.
India lost an early wicket of vice-captain Rohit Sharma when he edged a Beuran Hendricks delivery straight into the hands of first slip. And when Hendricks came back to bowl the fifth over, there was a little shoulder-nudge from captain Kohli as he ran past the South African pacer. The shoulder-nudge was a reply by Kohli to Hendricks’ intimidating stare.
Kohli was dismissed by Kagiso Rabada a couple of overs later. The right-hander scoredꦜ just nine runs off 15 balls before being sent back ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚto the pavilion.
Here’s the video:
King se panga nhi lene ka👑
— Pravin (@ifeelcricket)
In their 135-run chase, South African captain de K𒆙ock looked in complete control and struck six fours and five sixes in his unbeaten 52-ball unbeaten 79.
He added 76 runs for the first wicket w🌱ith Rꦰeeza Hendricks in 10 overs and then put on another 64 with Temba Bavuma.
