Virat Kohli credits Rohit Sharma: The Indian captain appreciated his opening batsman’s series-defining knock in the second Test.
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India captain Virat Kohli believes his team coming back from behind to win the second Test in Chennai by 317 runs was the “most pleasing” moment of the recently concluded Test series against England.
Having lost the first match by 227 runs, India improved their game to a large extent at the same venue to draw level the series by outplaying the opposition across divisions.
“I think the comeback [in the second Test] pleased me the most. The first game was an aberration the way we played as a team. The toss played a crucial role and I don’t think the bowlers were in the game at all. We bowled and fielded with more intensity and so the comeback was very heartening,” Kohli told Star Sports during the post-match presentation ceremony.
Kohli, who also laid emphasis on improving as a team despite winning the series 3-1, hailed the likes of wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant and all-rounders Washington Sundar and Axar Patel, all of whom contributed significantly throughout the series.
“Axar [Patel] and Washington [Sundar] are ready and the idea was to have youngsters who came in and perform with fearlessness. Rishabh and Washi did it with that game-changing partnership and Axar too.
“Well, we’re obviously happy to win the series, but there are always things to improve. Nothing is a given because every team is an international side. In the future, we will have hiccups, but we have to keep ironing them out,” Kohli said.
Virat Kohli credits Rohit Sharma after series victory
In addition to the youngsters, Kohli was also wax-lyrical for spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and opening batsman Rohit Sharma. While Ashwin won the Man of the Series award for his all-round brilliance throughout the series, Kohli was particularly amazed by Sharma’s seventh Test century.
“Well, [Ravichandran] Ashwin has been banker for us for the past six-seven years in Test cricket. Rohit’s [Sharma] knock was the most-defining moment in us coming back [in the series]. Getting 150 [161] on that pitch was as good as getting 250 and it got us into the contest. Throughout the series, he got important knocks and partnerships,” Kohli mentioned.
Having won the match by an innings and 25 runs, India have now topped the points table of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship all set to to face New Zealand in the final match at the Lord’s later this year.
“Now, we can accept and admit that we are in the WTC final; it was a distraction for us. It did become a bit of distraction for us in New Zealand, but we took it one game at a time since,” Kohli added.
