‘A lot to learn from lower order’
BIRMINGHAM: Dejected India skipper Virat Kohli asked his top-order batsmen to get their act together after failure to negotiate swing in both innings undermined the team as England pulled off a thrilling 31-run victory in the Edgbaston Test on Saturday.
Kohli top scored with 149 in the first innings and 51 in the second but was left to almost singlehandedly pull off victory as the next best score was all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s 31 on the fourth morning of the Test.
Kohli praised the hosts but wasn’t impressed with his batsmen. “England were relentless on the final day. We will take the positives, and we showed some character. The bowlers showed character,” he said after the game ended before lunch on Day 4.
So, what did India lack, he was asked at the presentation ceremony. “(Batting) application,” Kohli said. “There is a lot to learn from the lower order — Ishant and Umesh getting stuck in there. As the top order, we have to look at ourselves in the mirror.”
While the top-three batsmen --Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul — survived for only 93 balls in total in the first innings; Ajinkya Rahane, who had a stellar away record, too lasted for only 34 balls.
In contrast to their failure, tai- lenders Ishant Sharma (17) and Umesh Yadav (16) displayed better intent and faced 33 balls in total, allowing Kohli to add 92 runs for the last two wickets.
Kohli said the defeat should not lead to negativity but they should work out how they can turn things around in conditions that are helpful to batsmen.
In a bowling-dominated match, India’s top three were a huge letdown. Openers Vijay (20 & 6), Shikhar (26 & 13) and Rahul (4 & 13) helped add only 50 and 32. England made 135 and 22 with the first innings contribution bolstered by skipper Joe Root’s 80.
India suffered heartbreak in the Adelaide Test on the 2014-15 tour, despite Kohli scoring backto-back centuries.
While the skipper put his Edgbaston knock only behind the second innings effort in Adelaide, both matches ended in defeat.