Kohli will be difference between India and South Africa in Cape Town: Gavaskar

Listen to Story Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feels that Virat Kohli will be the point of difference between South Africa and India in the second Test match of the series. Speaking during the Tea break, Gavaskar said that Kohli has looked in complete control despite the Cape Town pitch showing signs of awkward bounce on Day 1 of the Test match.

Gavaskar was high praise of Kohli and said that whenever Kohli bats in the first innings it looks like the pitch does not have any demons at all. "He will be the difference (on an awkward pitch). You know, he's showing the positive approach, recognising that you know this is the kind of pitch where you can get out to a screamer of a delivery.

He's giving me the confidence. You sit in the commentary box and you see and you think he's playing on a different surface," Gavaskar said on Star Sports at the Tea break. Batters have not found it easy to stay for long in the Cape Town pitch. South Africa side were bowled out for just 55 runs in the first session of Day 1, while India lost 4 wickets themselves despite scoring at a brisk rate in the second session of the game.

Most wickets came through bowlers finding extra bounce on the odd delivery that surprised the batters. "He's (Kohli) got things in control as batting is concerned. He's batted splendidly, there's no other way to say it. When the opportunity was there, when the ball is pitched up, he's driven it for boundaries.

He's played the hook shot well, he's played his cut shot quite purposefully. He is very well aware of the situation and playing according to what the team needs," concluded Gavaskar. Virat Kohli looked in superb touch during the 1st Test match as well. After missing his fifty in the first innings, Kohli came out with vengeance in India's second innings in Centurion and fought a losing battle.

Kohli was dismissed for 76 runs in India's second innings as India were bowled out for 131 runs..