Kohli, Rahane showcase India’s batting might

The hard work was done on the first day. On the second, it was time to reap the benefits. Virat Kohli became the first Indian Test captain to score two double-centuries while Ajinkya Rahane missed his maiden double-ton by 12 runs as the full force of India’s batting might came to the fore against New Zealand in the third Test in Indore.

Kohli (211) and Rahane (188) started the second day with India on 267 for 3 and batted for an over after tea, extending their fourth-wicket partnership to 365 and setting up India for a declaration at 557 for 5. Martin Guptill and Tom Latham then safely saw through a tricky nine overs to end the day on 28 for no loss, still trailing by 529 runs.

It was the old-fashioned way of Indian domination – bat big in the first innings when the conditions are most suitable, tire out the opposition, and allow your spinners to take control. It was almost as if the Indians wanted to show the packed Holkar Stadium what they’ve missed all these years, with the venue hosting its first-ever Test match.

You could almost sense New Zealand’s helplessness with every passing ball, over and session. India’s run-rate in the first session was 3.37. The batsmen scored even slower – at 3.26 runs an over – in the second. It was slow poison, not a brutal murder.

Both Kohli and Rahane were more freeflowing even while ensuring that all those qualities they exhibited on the first day – cautious defence, impressive application and restrain – were intact. The end result was utter dominance, but the process was anything but easy. Rahane in particular had to face some chin music early on when Matt Henry peppered him with some short balls from around the wicket.

The bouncer-barrage had troubled Rahane throughout the first day and it was no different on Sunday. He ducked awkwardly at times, took a blow on his helmet, and was even nearly caught at fine-leg. But just like he did on Saturday, Rahane gutsed it out and came out unscathed.

It was here that Kohli’s presence helped. The Indian captain knew exactly when to take control, and kept the scoreboard moving to ensure there was no pressure. It allowed Rahane to go past his century, the landmark coming with a pull off Trent Boult. Almost silently, Kohli went past the 150-run mark.

The personal milestones were out of the way and it was time to step on the accelerator. Rahane took charge now, shifting gears with remarkable ease. He charged down the track to loft Jeetan Patel over the long-off fence, and later repeated the shot against Mitchell Santner.

More than the big hits, though, it was Rahane’s inside-out shots over extra cover that stood out. The spinners even tried a leg-stump line, but Rahane still made room to hit over the off-side.

While Rahane showed no fear in going over the field, Kohli collected his boundaries through elegant drives and steers. Only after he crossed 150 did he play his first lofted shot and reverse-sweep. His wrist-work in particular was impressive, the punchy flicks regularly racing between mid-wicket and mid-on.

The extraordinary discipline meant Kohli was largely untroubled. The only time he seemed in trouble was when Rahane, looking to attack Patel again, smashed the ball at the non-striker. Fortunately, Kohli’s bat came in the way, drawing smiles from both batsmen.

Once that danger was out of the way, Kohli resumed working the gaps, and soon reached his double-ton with a flick off Henry. It was a memorable milestone in tough conditions, but there were no extravagant celebrations.

The 471-minute association finally ended when Patel lured Kohli into a lazy flick and trapped him leg before in the first over after tea. Rahane continued the acceleration but followed soon, edging a wide ball from Boult to BJ Watling, the wicketkeeper.

A well-deserved double-century was denied but there would be no respite for New Zealand. Rohit Sharma, who was kept waiting and padded-up for close to eight hours, helped himself to a quick half-century, his third in the series, before India declared. The home side was penalised five runs when Ravindra Jadeja ran down through the middle of the pitch twice while looking for runs.

“I don’t know if we could have done it a whole lot different with the ball,” Neesham had lamented after the first day’s play. It was no different on the second day. The bowling was largely disciplined, but there was little New Zealand could do against two top-class batsmen. Kohli and Rahane never allowed Kane Williamson to set an organised field, scoring runs all around the ground.

Williamson, though, perhaps missed a trick in not persisting with bouncers to Rahane early in the day. The Mumbai batsman was clearly uncomfortable facing the awkward-height snorters from Henry, but New Zealand dropped the plan too soon. Henry bowled only one over from that angle, and was soon taken off the attack. Neither he, nor the strategy, returned anytime soon.

New Zealand’s openers will resume battle on the third day, with a mountain of runs to climb thanks to India’s captain and his deputy.