Prithvi showed he is different quality player: Kohli
Rajkot, Oct 6 : Prithvi Shaw is a "different quality" player and that's why the youngster was rushed into the Test team, gushed an elated India captain Virat Kohli after the Mumbai teenager was adjudged Man-of-the-match for his century on Test debut against the West Indies.
Shaw became the youngest Indian batsman, fourth overall, to score a hundred on Test debut. He began his Test journey with a 134-run knock, opening the innings for India, who thrashed the West Indies by an innings and 272 runs in the series-opener.
"Delighted for Prithvi and Jaddu. Playing his first game, seeing him dominate - the guy (Shaw) showed he is different quality. That's why he's been pushed to the Test team. It is exciting to see from the captain's perspective," Kohli said at the post-match presentation.
"Jaddu as well - he has got important runs for us before and we wanted him to get three figures. We believe he can turn matches for us," Kohli added.
Saurashtra all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also had a memorable game as he scored his maiden Test ton.
Kohli also credited the pace duo of Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav for putting the opposition under pressure.
"If you see the first innings, the way Umesh and Shami ran into bowl. Few wickets with the new ball and you can put the opposition under pressure. Shami took wickets on a pitch that was offering nothing."
Asked about the impressive overate, Kohli said more than the players it the umpires, who are responsible.
"It was a bit to do with the umpires pushing us as well. With the new rule of not drinking water. The guys struggled a bit because of that, it was difficult for guys to bat 45 minutes without water. I'm sure they'll look at those rules and adjust it for conditions."
Asked about the difference in conditions between Rajkot and England, where India lost the test series 1-4 last month, Kohli said the two can not be compared.
"That was a bigger challenge. We understand that with the ability we have, we will dominate in these conditions. We were very clinical," Kohli said.
Shaw said it was a good start to his Test career and his strategy was to play like any first class domestic mach.
"It was a great win. Scoring myself and getting the team to a win on my debut, couldn't have imagined it so I feel good. Whenever you play international cricket, there is always a challenge. I was looking to play my natural game, the way I play in First Class cricket, and play the ball on the merit."
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said lack of partnerships cost them the match.
"India played well and showed us how to bat, especially. As a batting unit we didn't get any partnerships put together and that cost us. I think the batters we have are fully capable of doing the job. We need two or three big partnerships to set it up.
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Prasidh, Kuldeep limit South Africa to 270 after De Kock's hundred
Visakhapatnam (PTI): India fought back gallantly through Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav after Quinton de Kock struck his 23rd hundred, keeping South Africa to a manageable 270 in the third and series-deciding final ODI, here Saturday.
India won the toss after judging the spin of the coin incorrectly 20 times in a row. They had little hesitation in inserting the Proteas into bat, a clear indication of dew factor dominating the thought.
After Arshdeep Singh sent back Ryan Rickelton early, De Kock (106, 89b, 8x4, 6x4) struck his seventh century against India and put on 113 runs off 124 balls with skipper Temba Bavuma (48, 67b) as the visitors moved to a healthy position.
De Kock was severe on Prasidh (4/66), who erred on length continuously in his first spell (2-0-27-0). The left-hander biffed the pacer for 6, 6, 4 in his second over to milk 18 runs.
The 32-year-old quickly pounced on anything that was short, and pacers Prasidh and Harshit offered him plenty of feed on his pet areas.
Bavuma was more sedate, and made runs through those typical dabs and jabs, occasionally unfurling a drive of elan.
De Kock moved to fifty in 42 balls, and never let the tempo down reaching his hundred in 79 balls.
India found temporary relief when Ravindra Jadeja induced a false slash from Bavuma to get caught by Virat Kohli at point.
The tourists got another move on through a 54-run partnership between De Kock and Matthew Breetzkle for the third wicket, and at 168 for two in 28 overs they were in a good position to press on.
But Breetzke's punishment of part-time spinner Tilak Varma forced a rethink in the Indian camp, as skipper KL Rahul brought back Prasidh for a second spell.
What a masterstroke it turned out to be! The Karnataka man broke the back of South Africa’s top and middle order in an exceptional second spell (4-0-11-3).
Breetzke was the first man to go, trapped plumb in front with a straight one and four balls later Aiden Markram uppishly chipped a fuller delivery to Kohli at short covers.
Prasidh soon castled De Kock, whose ugly cross-batted swipe failed to connect a full length delivery from the pacer.
All of a sudden, SA found themselves at a shaky 199 for five, losing three wickets in the space of three overs.
Once Prasidh was done away with the top and middle-order, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep (4/41) took over and mopped up the tail as SA fell short of even a par total on this track.
