Piyush Chawla heaped praise on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for giving Test cricket priority after India managed to draw the series against South Africa on January 4 with a win in the Cape Town Test.

Kohli and Rohit skipped the white-ball leg of the tour to the rainbow nation and came back into the squad for the Test series. After a slow start in the first Test, Rohit would play an aggressive knock in the first innings of the second match of the series to set a good platform for the side.

India vs South Africa, 2nd Test: Highlights

SA vs IND, 2nd Test: Scorecard

Kohli would also show his fine form during the series despite the modest 172 runs he scored across both matches. His 46 in the first innings was critical for the side in the end as they secured a 98-run lead to put the Proteas on the backfoot.

India would end up winning the match by 7 wickets, with skipper Rohit remaining unbeaten to see his side home.

Speaking to Star Sports about the legacy Rohit and Kohli wants to create in Test cricket, Chawla said that for both men the longest format of the game is the priority. The spinner also suggested that both men wanted to be on the trip as South Africa isn’t an easy place to perform.

“If you ask you know they say Test cricket is the priority and when you walk on the road, on the streets as well, nobody says he (Kohli) is a one-day cricketer, he is a T20 cricketer, everyone says he is a Test cricketer, so that’s what makes a huge difference. That’s why they opted out of the white-ball series and they wanted to play on this trip, because we all know, it’s one of the most difficult places to go and perform,” said Chawla.

Virat Kohli’s 46 was an absolute treat to watch: Piyush Chawla

Chawla also praised the knock by Kohli in the first innings of the second Test in Cape Town and called it an absolute treat because of the way the Indian star batted.

“If you see Virat Kohli. The way he batted in both the Test matches. Those 46 runs, but the way he batted in those 46 runs. It was absolutely a treat to watch,” said Chawla

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