Countdown to Kohli being ranked number 1

[SLICKR392]

It is official he is beyond jinxes like Dhoni!!

:yay: This is HUGE !!! Kohli overcame the KT jinx.

[Pagalpanti]

Kohli the 2nd Indian batsman to be ranked no.1 right?

[Lord]

Kohli the 2nd Indian batsman to be ranked no.1 right?

Dhoni was also there imo

[Pagalpanti]

Dhoni was also there imo

Yep I meant him as the first.. I don't think anyone else has been no.1 from India?

[SLICKR392]

Yep I meant him as the first.. I don't think anyone else has been no.1 from India?

Kohli has now become the third India batsman to hold the number-one batting rank in ODI cricket, after Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. Tendulkar first claimed the number one position when he took over from Brian Lara in February 1996. He was last number one in March 2008. Dhoni first reached number one when he took over from Ricky Ponting in April 2006. He was last ranked number one in July 2010. Kohli now leads South Africa’s Hashim Amla by 13 ratings points. Amla had been holding the coveted number-one position since November 2010, and is expected to be available for the remaining three ODIs against Pakistan.

http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2013/media-releases/75808/kohli-becomes-number-one-ranked-odi-batsman

[Lord]

Yep I meant him as the first.. I don't think anyone else has been no.1 from India?

Sachin was there for sure too

[King Tendulkar]

:yay: This is HUGE !!! Kohli overcame the KT jinx.

Many others have as well but anyhow don't want to shatter peoples illusions:giggle:

[adi B]

magnificent kohli!! top 7 odi batsmen have had a fabulous last 1 year be it amla,abdv,sanga,trott ,cant complain about the ranking

[King Tendulkar]

Is a genius

[Switchblade]

'Kohli needs to stay confident' - Jennings http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-india-2013-14/content/current/story/700433.html Virat Kohli and Ray Jennings go back a long way. In 2008, Virat Kohli's Under-19 team was bowled out for 159 in the World Cup final, he had seen some of Ray Jennings' South African boys "playing football and relaxed as if they had come for a picnic" during the break. He had heard Bradley Barnes, the wicketkeeper, say they had sent India packing. After pulling off a win that day, Kohli made it a point to be in the faces of the South African players as he swore with a stump in hand. Jennings, the South Africa coach, congratulated Kohli, shook his hand, and was Kohli's coach at Royal Challengers Bangalore a few months later. Over the last five years, Jennings has worked closely with Kohli and, along with Anil Kumble, has been credited with moulding the batsman's attitude; he knows Kohli's game well. In those five years, Kohli has progressed impressively in international cricket, becoming adept at chases in ODIs, and showing he can cut it in Tests as well. Jennings feels these two Tests in South Africa will be a difficult examination for Kohli, especially considering his performance in the ODI series - 31 runs in two innings. Both his dismissals followed shortish deliveries, which raised some flags. Jennings believes if there is a weakness in Kohli's game, it is against quick bowling, and South African conditions won't provide the Indian batsman any respite. "It's going to be quite a difficult test for him," Jennings said. "South Africa in South African conditions will try to exploit his weaknesses. When you look at Virat Kohli as a batsman, he's a superb player of spin. If there is any weakness, it's while facing fast bowling. He will definitely be tested in South Africa, like he has been during the ODIs. He has to rise above that challenge in these conditions. It's a pity that it's only two Test matches because if he does well, people will say it's only two Tests. If he does badly, they'll say he failed in only two Tests. That is, unfortunately, the issue." Jennings has spotted a weakness or two, but is in no mood to help the South Africa think-tank either. "I have seen one or two things in the last two innings," he said. "I'm sure he's good enough and Duncan Fletcher is smart enough to rectify those issues. It's unfair for me to publicly talk about those weaknesses. You know I've grown up in South Africa, and I'm very aware of what people need to do to do well here. It's incorrect for me to put it out in the media because, obviously, the South African team and people like that will try to exploit those things." Jennings feels that, along with Cheteshwar Pujara, Kohli is going to be key to how India do in the two Tests, especially because of the vast gulf between the two bowling attacks. "I think India do have four-five players who are key," Jennings said. "I think Pujara is good. You have [MS] Dhoni. Their batting has more key players than the bowling. In South Africa, the Indian bowling needs to step up a little bit to level the playing field, because if the South Africans prepare green wickets and exploit the Indian batting, and the Indian bowlers aren't up to scratch, they can't exploit the South African batsmen." Kohli, a No. 3 batsman in ODIs, has been batting at No. 5 for India in the Tests. Now with Sachin Tendulkar gone, there might be a chance to move one step up. According to Jennings, it won't make much difference for Kohli as long as he doesn't move up to No. 3. If he were the coach, he would want to keep Kohli confident despite the failures in the ODIs. "I know Virat is a very moody and confident type of player," Jennings said. "So the most important thing for him right now is to get his mind into that confident state. To make sure he feels good about himself. "I know Virat likes hitting a lot of balls and making himself feel good. If you see him walk very confidently to the wicket, he's a very destructive player. He needs to be in that mood. And you know players get built up with performances and things like that. After a few failures, you don't feel bad about yourself, but you are not confident about your skills. A confident player can deliver his skills while an unconfident player tends to hold back and finds it difficult to score runs. That to me will be a very important thing for Virat to look at." Asked if Kohli might have a problem with the short ball - there were moments of discomfort in the West Indies in 2011, and he has copped a blow in the ODIs here - Jennings said it was all about getting used to the pace and bounce of the short ball in South Africa. "The short ball in India is different to the short ball in South Africa," he said. "The important thing is, Virat and all the Indian players need to come to terms with the short ball in South Africa. It's all depending on how long they spend on the wicket and get used to the pace. "I think when you look at India, it's a type of tour where you needed to come here two or three weeks before. While India has the slowest wickets in the world, South Africa has probably the quickest wickets in the world. As an Indian group of players, they should have come here a little earlier and planned a little better, if they consistently want to perform because by the time they get used to the wickets, the tour can be finished. Jennings noted that the Indian batsmen have been rattled a bit, but said it was not unexpected. "If you drive a car that goes a 100 kilometres an hour, and then I put you in one that is going at 170 kph, of course, you will be rattled and be troubled till you get used to the car going at 170kph," Jennings said. "In South Africa, the wickets are quicker. You are playing on our soil, where the ball swings differently, swings quicker and moves off the wicket quicker. "When you compare the bounce, in India you need to put the ball a lot shorter and it lollipops to you. In South Africa, you don't need to pitch it that short. It comes up to you quickly. So it's a lot more intense and the conditions need to be adapted to before people start playing competitive cricket. If not, India will always find it difficult over here. They experience and adapt to the conditions over time.They will get better and better but, by the time they are really good, the series might be finished."

[King Tendulkar]

BANG TON Hundred on pacey SA wicket against best pace attack in the world CLASS

[Cricketics]

Nothing left for him or his fans to prove anyone that he is not FTB or anything. He has cleared the last hurdle of scoring in toughest tracks of South Africa. He should bat without any pressure now in all his future test. Nothing for him to prove anyone now.

[King Tendulkar]

Well has test ton in oz as well:cantstop:

[express bowling]

A century Against the best fast bowling attack currently In South Africa on their fastest and bounciest pitch There was seam movement and some swing too 2 wickets down cheaply Good against both the channel deliveries and short balls This is the kind of batsman that I want to have in my team.

[coffee_rules]

5 100s, still waiting to see a 150 at least..Still a long way to go to prove himself.

[Deleted_User_1]

Nothing left for him or his fans to prove anyone that he is not FTB or anything. He has cleared the last hurdle of scoring in toughest tracks of South Africa. He should bat without any pressure now in all his future test. Nothing for him to prove anyone now.

Excuse me....he has a lot to prove in test cricket. He has to keep up this performance series after series. That is what separates the good from the great. Typical desi complacency!!

[Cricketics]

Excuse me....he has a lot to prove in test cricket. He has to keep up this performance series after series. That is what separates the good from the great. Typical desi complacency!!

Agree on that what you said. I meant from the point of view that he is good enough player and has proved that he isnj't a FTB like how people end up saying after someone fails few times away from home after havign hit plenty of runs in India. This knock really should atleast shut them up. Though it was proven in firs ttour to south africa itself during odi's that he is the deal and can play all over the world, but a test knock seem to convice people rightfully so here it is. Yes, he has to motivate himself to keep scoring.

[Deleted_User_1]

Agree on that what you said. I meant from the point of view that he is good enough player and has proved that he isnj't a FTB like how people end up saying after someone fails few times away from home after havign hit plenty of runs in India. This knock really should atleast shut them up. Though it was proven in firs ttour to south africa itself during odi's that he is the deal and can play all over the world, but a test knock seem to convice people rightfully so here it is. Yes, he has to motivate himself to keep scoring.

True this was a great knock. Honestly, even though he is supremely talented I did not expect him to show the temperament of leaving the balls that needs to be left alone and punishing the bad/average ones. Good for him! However, consistency needs to be demonstrated. I am not saying he won't, but will be only be a good batsman until he plays like this consistently throughout his career. Then he will be an all time great, but he has a long way to go. But I think we are in agreement that when he is on song, he is a joy to watch. He just needs to shut his mouth and do the talking with his bat like Sunny, SRT, Dravid, etc have done in their careers.

[Cricketics]

But I think we are in agreement that when he is on song, he is a joy to watch. He just needs to shut his mouth and do the talking with his bat like Sunny, SRT, Dravid, etc have done in their careers.

Probably he is different in that way from Dravid, Laxman, Srt etc. I guess if its working for him then I don't mind. I was disappointed that he got out the way he did. I thought he could have scored 150 easily the way he was shwoing termperment. Good thing is that he will learn from this for sure as he always does and will comeback hard. He knows in the back of his mind that he got to pay back to his RCB team mate Kallis for getting a wicket on a cheap shyt delivery.

[vvvslaxman]

Kohli Like Tendulkar - Donald http://www.sport24.co.za/Cricket/IndiaInSA/Donald-Kohli-like-Tendulkar-20131218 Donald: Kohli like Tendulkar Johannesburg - As India look for a new cricketing hero to replace Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli is showing signs that he can be that man after a mature century against the Proteas at the Wanderers on Wednesday. The 25-year-old has taken over Tendulkar's number four position in the batting line-up following the retirement of test cricket's leading run-scorer, and his skill, grit and determination have drawn comparisons with the man dubbed the 'Little Maestro'. Former Proteas fast bowler Allan Donald, now the team's bowling coach, watched Kohli compile his excellent century and, having played against Tendulkar many times, noticed similarities. "Kohli reminds me of Sachin Tendulkar in the way he plays for his team when the chips are down," Donald told reporters. "There has been a lot of talk about him replacing Tendulkar in the number four position and today he made a statement. "He left well, he punished the bad balls, he paced his innings well. He showed real fight, he was disciplined and aggressive when he needed to be." Kohli was also delighted with the innings, describing it has his best in Test cricket and one that fulfilled a long-held dream of scoring a ton in South Africa. Having also scored a century in his first Test series in Australia in the 2011-12 season, it completed a worthy double for any player from the sub-continent. "All I could think about was getting a Test hundred in South Africa," Kohli said. "This was something I wanted to do badly. "I know how special it is for players to get a hundred here. "It's the best I have batted in Test cricket." Kohli has felt the weight of expectation after taking Tendulkar's position, but has been helped by batting further down the order in his first 20 Tests. "Number four is going to be a very crucial position for us in Tests going forward and I want to make my mark in that position," he said. "I got good exposure at five and six. "I knew that I would probably get the four slot when Sachin retired and it is a challenge because he has done so well in that position. "But for me it is nice to get into the action early, get your plans together and execute." There had been talk that Kohli was a soft-touch to the short-pitched ball, a key weapon of the South African attack, and the positive way he dealt with it was another big tick against his name. "We know we are all going to get short-pitched stuff and unless you counter-attack it will keep coming. "It is all about dictating terms when you go out to bat. I wanted to be positive," Kohli said.