LONDON: Virat Kohli has warned England that his India side are only going to get better after they wrapped up victory in the third Test at Trent Bridge.
The tourists took just 10 minutes to claim the one wicket they needed to win by 203 runs and cut the host’s lead in the five-match series to 2-1.
And having seen all three parts of their game come together — batting, bowling and fielding — the captain cut a confident figure with two matches remaining.
“When both skills come together with slip catching, you win Test matches and I’m really happy to see everyone taking the responsibility at the right time. Couldn’t have come at a better time for us,” Kohli said.
Only once has a side two down after two Tests come back to win a five-match series, but fresh off the back of this big victory the master batsmen praised his side saying they answered all their critics. Coming into the match India’s batsmen, bar the brilliant Kohli, had been widely criticized, and the captain said: “As a batting group, we spoke about how the bowlers are doing so well and if we just stepped up as batsmen we will definitely be on top and that’s exactly what we did.”
The win means Kohli is now India’s second most successful Test captain. He has edged past Sourav Ganguly’s 21 Test wins. Now only MS Dhoni, with 27, has more victories.
For Joe Root defeat was a bitter blow, coming just a week after
England’s dominance at Lord’s. But the skipper decided to focus on the positives.
“We are still in the driving seat,” Root said.
“We have to keep remembering that. We have time away to reflect on what’s been a difficult week. We are a very good side at bouncing back after a tough couple of days. I am fully expecting the guys to come back at Southampton refreshed and ready to go.”
After deservedly going into a 2-0 lead and heading into the Trent Bridge Test on a high, the tables have now turned with all the question marks hanging over the England batting line-up, not least over the form of their two openers, Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings.
But former captain Cook got a vote of confidence from Root.
“Cook is a world-class performer,” Root said.
“He’s proven that time and time again. I’d like you to write him off because every time he’s written off he comes back and scores a double-hundred.”
Virat Kohli confident India can upset the odds and claim series win over England
Virat Kohli confident India can upset the odds and claim series win over England
- Only once before has a side come from 2-0 down in a five-Test series to win.
- India go into next week's match in Southampton a high having cut England's lead to 2-1.