The Delhi batsman was always known to possess special talent and a keen mind. He has added focus and grit to that to achieve admirable success at the international level. The ongoing ODI series in South Africa has cast him in good light. Virat has not played a big innings yet in the series, but his stints in the middle have shown him to be one of the better batsmen from the Indian side when pitted against hostile bowling and tough conditions. It is in situations like these that the true mettle of a batsman is known. It is much easier to amass big runs on flat sub continental pitches or against pedestrian attacks. But when Dale Styen and Morne Morkel are making it swing and fly past you, it's a different ball game altogether.
Virat has shown a refreshing attitude and a good technique while dealing with the challenge despite his inexperience of South African conditions. More importantly, he has not got bogged down and has kept the scoreboard ticking. Scores of 54, 22 and 28 in the first three matches have not exactly set stadiums on fire but he has looked maybe the most comfortable among Indian batsmen. He was unlucky to be run out in the second game and got a beast of a ball from Morkel in the third one-dayer in Cape Town. Otherwise, he has not flinched. What adds considerable value to Virat's role in the team is his fielding. He is one of the most accomplished fielders in the Indian team, probably the best, along with Suresh Raina.
The three catches he took in India's narrow win in the third ODI against South Africa highlighted his utility. The first catch was a reflex one at first slip where he pouched Colin Ingram inches off the ground off Harbhajan Singh. The reaction time he had was only half a second. The second one was a comparatively easier effort but a crucial one as Graeme Smith was proving to be a stumbling block. The third catch was again particular even though it looked easy. Faf du Plessis tried to hit Munaf Patel hard past point but could only top edge it. Virat made a perfect jump to pluck the ball as it was about to whizz past him. The degree of difficulty of this catch was higher because the batsman had fallen while playing the shot. Virat could easily have been distracted by the image of the stumbling batsman because du Plessis was right in the line of his vision.
Virat has shown a refreshing attitude and a good technique while dealing with the challenge despite his inexperience of South African conditions. More importantly, he has not got bogged down and has kept the scoreboard ticking. Scores of 54, 22 and 28 in the first three matches have not exactly set stadiums on fire but he has looked maybe the most comfortable among Indian batsmen. He was unlucky to be run out in the second game and got a beast of a ball from Morkel in the third one-dayer in Cape Town. Otherwise, he has not flinched. What adds considerable value to Virat's role in the team is his fielding. He is one of the most accomplished fielders in the Indian team, probably the best, along with Suresh Raina.
The three catches he took in India's narrow win in the third ODI against South Africa highlighted his utility. The first catch was a reflex one at first slip where he pouched Colin Ingram inches off the ground off Harbhajan Singh. The reaction time he had was only half a second. The second one was a comparatively easier effort but a crucial one as Graeme Smith was proving to be a stumbling block. The third catch was again particular even though it looked easy. Faf du Plessis tried to hit Munaf Patel hard past point but could only top edge it. Virat made a perfect jump to pluck the ball as it was about to whizz past him. The degree of difficulty of this catch was higher because the batsman had fallen while playing the shot. Virat could easily have been distracted by the image of the stumbling batsman because du Plessis was right in the line of his vision.
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