Pune (Maharashtra) [India], Jan. 15 : Newly appointed ODI skipper Virat Kohli on Sunday heaped praise on Kedar Jadhav blistering knock of 120 runs which guided India to a sensational three-wicket win over England in the first ODI in Pune on Sunday, saying the 'best calculative innings' of the latter was just 'outstanding'.
Earlier, Kohli and Jadhav rattled up a sensational partnership for the fifth wicket to set up the platform after England set the hosts a stiff 351-run target at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium.
Addressing the media in the post-match press conference, Kohli said, "I think it was outstanding. Just to have another guy willing to believe that we can win from any situation was such a boost for me as well to keep pushing.
The way he came out, he knew exactly how to bat on this wicket which was tremendous." "I think he tackled the English pacers very well.
He put a lot of pressure on spinners, so the spinners couldn't come at any situation." The 28-year-old skipper, who himself scored his 27th ODI ton, said Jadhav's knock was one of the best calculative innings he had ever seen.
Jhadav (120 off 76 balls), who came to bat at No. 7 after India had lost four wickets at 63, batted extremely well with Kohli (122) and the duo stitched together a record 200-run partnership to ensure the host chase down the mammoth target of 351.
The 31-year-old batsman, who notched up his second ODI century, was extremely attacking as he smashed the England bowlers to all parts of the ground and hit 12 boundaries and four sixes.
He scored the fifth fastest century and became the fourth Indian batsman to do so, joining the likes of Kohli, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh.
"I am glad I was there with him, to keep pushing him. He was disappointed in the last series against New Zealand when he could not get us through. If you ask me one word for his innings, it would be outstanding," Kohli said. "I think it was one of the best partnerships that I have been a part of. I think this was something really special and it will stay with me for a very long time." "Me and Kedhar had a gut feeling.
We thought that if we take the score past 150, 160 together, still four down, we have a great chance and we kept looking at the number of balls and the number of runs needed.
The moment we brought it down to 10, we knew that England are under pressure now," he added. This was Kohli's 15th ton in a victorious chase, eclipsing Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's mark of 14 tons, which he had equalled in the last ODI series against New Zealand.
Jadhav, who was adjudged Man of the Match, in the post-match presentation ceremony had earlier said, "It's a great feeling that I could win a game for my country in front of my home crowd, and in front of my family.
If you can make your team win, make your country proud, that's the greatest feeling." "I could play this long because of captain Virat Kohli.
He has done it so many times, showing how to chase big totals. I missed many chances to bat with Virat and watch him bat closely in the past, so today was the chance.
It is a special day for me. Running with Virat is tough. Cramps are fine now and I am feeling better now.".
Source: ANI
