The crowd in Block J at the magnificent Eden Gardens in Kolkata did not think too highly of Yuvraj Singh on Saturday.

The flamboyant all-rounder was posted in the deep, right in front of an adoring set of fans when Pakistan came out to bat. A wildly popular figure in the Indian team, the crowd were initially delighted that one of their favourites was within such close proximity. “Yuvraj...Yuvraj,” roared a group of men, dangled in the tri-colour, hoping for some sort of reaction from the player.

No response, not even a wave.

“Yuvraj, you are my hero,” came a full-throated cry from a young lady.

Still nothing, except a piercing glance behind at something (or maybe someone) he did not like.

“Abbe, yaar...ek baar to haat dikha de (Man, wave to us once),” screamed someone in frustration finally. But even that did not elicit even a glance.

That settled it. The Eden crowd is an egoistic lot and it does not take kindly to those who do not return its affections.

“That is why Mahendra Singh Dhoni has banished him to the boundary...he is not the fielder he was anymore,” sniggered the group, dangled in the tri-colour. “Come on, he has to concentrate on the match,” tried to reason someone else, who was quickly told off.

As if to demonstrate how it was done, Virat Kohli was soon sent to the same spot in the next over. As he came running to take his position, the crowd went wild again. But Kohli, ever the showman, held out his hand, acknowledging the cheers. Delighted applause broke out. It would just be the start – by the time the evening would end, Virat Kohli’s name would be heard till even the Howrah Bridge a few kilometres away.

Another Indian batting collapse

There has been a change in Indian cricket over the past decade. It is a change that cannot be quantified, but can only be felt. And it has been a change that might have occurred under Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy, but has Virat Kohli’s brilliance as its beating heart. It was a change which aptly demonstrated itself in this match

India found themselves reeling at 24/3 in 4.3 overs, in response to Pakistan’s decent first innings total of 118/5. Kolkata has not been a stranger to inexplicable Indian batting collapses. Back in the 1996 World Cup semi-final, they were so infuriated over a similar collapse that they set fire to the stands and brought the game to a grinding halt. Later in 1999, the entire stadium had to be evacuated, coincidentally in a Test match against Pakistan.

Kohli the showman

But, not this time. The banter and the humour continued, despite the fall of wickets. Not a single soul flinched. Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, the batsmen dismissed till then, had a few angry words directed at them. But there was no malice. The air around the stadium remained expectant. And despite a similar India batting collapse in just their last match against New Zealand, no one even considered the possibility of a loss for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men.

An enduring legend about Sachin Tendulkar ran that until he was dismissed, cricket fans would cling on to the hope that India still remained with a chance to win. The legend about Virat Kohli runs a little differently in the new India that he inhabits – until he is dismissed, India will not lose the match.

And on a raging, square turner, Kohli batted serenely, exquisitely, delightfully. He dropped and ran, he dabbed and sprinted, and when he felt like it, he leaned forward and lovingly caressed the ball to the boundary. Where Pakistan’s batsmen played and missed, he got the middle of his bat on every ball and found runs at will. The only time Mohammad Amir beat him outside off stump, he got his own back on the very next ball – a resounding cover drive to the boundary.

Virat Kohli reached his half-century and pointed to the corporate box. Not an aggressive gesture, but one of reverence. Of respect. In the box, Sachin Tendulkar beamed back at him, waving the tricolour furiously. An hour or so back, the crowd had fallen back to a familiar chant when the Little Master was felicitated before the match. “Saachin, Saachin...” rang out as Tendulkar beamed and gave a short speech.

Now as Kohli raised his bat to the Little Master, the 61,000-strong crowd at the Eden Gardens screamed in one voice, “Kohlii, Kohlii”. On a thundery night at one of the greatest grounds in international cricket, the baton had just been passed.