Virat promised me that he would score a century: Coach Sharma

New Delhi: Virat Kohli's childhood coach and mentor Rajkumar Sharma is proud of the fact that his ward has kept his promise of scoring a century in the first Test against South Africa, which he feels will lift the spirit of the team for the remainder of the series.

"It is a wonderful knock and I can't express how proud I am that he has now scored Test centuries in both Australia and South Africa. He had promised me yesterday on the eve of the Test match that he would score a century in the first Test. I am happy that Virat has kept his promise," an ecstatic Sharma told PTI after his favourite student reached his fifth Test hundred.

For the coach, his favourite shot in the entire innings was a pull-shot that Virat hit off Dale Steyn.

"Virat normally calls me within 10 minutes after the day's proceedings get over. That has been his habit irrespective of wherever he is playing. I am confident that he would ask me "Sir aapko pull-shot kaisa laga?" (Sir, did you like the pull-shot that I played?) The head position, body balance and execution was perfect during that shot.

"The most special thing about this knock is the manner in which he has set the tone for the Test series. As a premier batsman of the team, he has shouldered the responsibility which will make any coach proud," Sharma said.

The coach was in no mood to compare Kohli's Test century in Adelaide with the one he made in Johannesburg today.

"You can't compare these two knocks. That was a different pitch and the bowling attack was different from this one. You have to understand the fact that there was a lot of talk about how Indians will handle the fiery pace of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. Virat has shown that it can be handled and that too with ease," said the coach while lavishing praise on the 25-year-old.

"Many won't realise but the 31 runs that Kohli made in the first ODI at this very venue had done his confidence a world of good.

"He got an outstanding delivery in the first ODI but before that he had three boundaries off Dale Steyn in one over. He is in very good touch. Virat has a very good backfoot technique to counter the rising deliveries and courage required for playing fast bowling has never been a concern for him. Obviously, there will be many more to come," said Sharma as he signed off.