Credit: ICC
Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri remembered India’s ex-Test skipper Virat Kohli during day 5 of the opening Test getting played at Headingley. In the initial stage of the final day of the match, India bowlers struggled in a battle against the hosts’ openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Both took the visitors’ bowling attack to the cleaners and solidified their team’s position in the match. Crawley scored 65 while Duckett chipped in with his 149-run innings to his side. Earlier, both batters added 117 runs together in the first session to make the chase easier for their side.
Noting India’s performance in the session, Shastri said that the visitors need to have someone bold like Kohli, who can take on the opponents with a fierce approach. “India need someone to do a Kohli. Should be someone designated. Kohli could do it for 3 people. Get in the face,” remarked Shastri.
England thrash India by five wickets
England hammered India by five wickets in the opening Test and took a 1-0 lead in the series. Ben Stokes and his men pulled off the target of 371 convincingly as Joe Root and Jamie Smith stood at the crease and took the team home. Root struck an unbeaten 53 off 84 while Jamie also contributed 44 off 55.
With this defeat, India will have to take a lesson as skipper Shubman Gill, along with the team management, has to bring changes in the bowling unit to get effective results in the second Test to be played at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground. Except for Jasprit Bumrah, all bowlers lacked discipline in the match. India have lost their last two Tests in Edgbaston. In 2022, England recorded their most successful Test chase at the venue, following 378 runs successfully against India.
