N ANANTHANARAYANAN

LONDON: India end a deserved break after the Trent Bridge high and head to Southampton on Monday to build up for the crucial fourth Test against England starting at the Rose Bowl on August 30. Prithvi Shaw, the 19-year-old opener, and fellow batsman, Hanuma Vihari have joined the team and await their first net session.

The manner in which Virat Kohli and his team have turned things around after going down 0-2 has put pressure on England and many believe the visitors can complete a historic comeback victory, and emulate Don Bradman’s Australia of 1936-37.

India have won only three Test series in England. A key member of the first, in 1971, was wicketkeeper-batsman Farokh Engineer. He believes Kohli’s team can better the achievements of the past if they win this series. India won 2-0 in 1986 under Kapil Dev and 1-0 in 2007 under Rahul Dravid.

“I’m absolutely delighted, as every Indian is, with how India came back, that too after losing the toss,” said the Manchesterbased Engineer. “They didn’t show much fight at Lord’s, but put their heads down at Trent Bridge. (Hardik) Pandya came up with an all-round performance.”

Kohli has banished his 2014 blues with two centuries, and the buzz around him is much like the attention Sachin Tendulkar used to get, especially in England where he played five series in 21 years. Kohli is the focus of the British media.

“Conditions are very different from India. The ball swings, and no cricketer is complete unless he takes wickets or scores runs in England,” said Engineer, who played 46 Tests from 1961-1974.

FAMILIAR BUZZ

He reminisced on a 19-year-old Tendulkar scoring his first Test century at Old Trafford in 1990.

“He scored his first 100 after having dinner at my house,” he recalled. “We had a barbecue in Manchester the previous night… Sachin at that stage was a wonder boy.

“The buzz around Virat is unmistakable. He had a lot to prove after 2014, and he has done that. I will be the happiest man being 2-2 coming to the Oval.

UNFAIR COMPARISON

Former India left-arm spinner, Dilip Doshi, played for Nottinghamshire, based at Trent Bridge, for long. “Sir Gary Sobers recommended me to the county, he was my godfather,” he says with pride.

He is delighted with India’s 203-run win. “The speed with which India turned things around tells me this team has come of age,” he said.