×

Virat Kohli turning into England’s worst nightmare

Virat Kohli is the reason why England find themselves staring an overseas Test series defeat.

Related articles

live cricket score, live score, live score cricket, india vs england live, india vs england live score, ind vs england live cricket score, india vs england 4th test match live, india vs england 4th test live, cricket live score, cricket score, cricket, live cricket streaming, live cricket video, live cricket, cricket live  Mumbai
Virat Kohli broke many records on Day Three © IANS

They went to Bangladesh to prepare; selected youngest of spinners in English circuit to the most experienced for India tour. They won tosses, scored hundreds of runs; their fast bowlers bent their backs, spinners got turn. They even put India in trouble in the first Test. But that’s that. England have done everything they can on this tour to defy India. But since they have failed in their endeavour, England do not have every blame to put on themselves. Because there is Virat Kohli, who has not just outclassed his far more experienced English counterpart, but has single-handedly defied the most meticulous cricket powerhouse.

Yes, Virat Kohli is the reason why England find themselves staring an overseas Test series defeat. Well, England do lose a lot of them in the subcontinent, but they are the only team to have defeated India in their backyard in last 10 years. Kohli was a part of that nightmare when India lost to England in 2012-13. He himself went through a nightmarish tour of England when a wily James Anderson belittled him in his backyard, in conditions he thrives. But this is Kohli’s arena, his age, his time to shine. Cook and Anderson might have combined to torment India the last time, but those are things of past.

England have haunted India far too often in the past. Swing, seam, spin and runs; they have used everything to keep India low. But not anymore; Kohli is turning into England’s worst nightmare.

Full Cricket Scorecard: India vs England 4th Test at Mumbai

Kohli has made 500 runs and counting, and as captain, he has outclassed Cook. Right from the first Test — the only contest in which England came close of challenging India in this series — Kohli has stood tall. Think about every aspect of the competition and Kohli is ubiquitous; be it planning for specific batsmen or bowling changes or even in setting the field. He has been top-notch.

England had to take a lot of wickets on the third day’s play in the Mumbai Test if they had to keep hopes alive of averting a series defeat. They did that; from 262 for 2, India slipped to 307 for 6. England were on-song with the flurry of wickets, all they needed to do was to keep hurting India. But little did they know, all Kohli needed was a partner who would listen to him; bat the way his captain want him to. Ravindra Jadeja failed to live up to his captain’s expectations, but Jayant Yadav did.

[read-also]555968,555972,555911[/read-also]

The credit of India’s slender lead of 51, which is in fact a lot keeping in mind the deteriorating wicket and the possibility of the hosts’ tail wagging for long goes to Kohli. Had he frittered away like the others, India would have fallen short of English total of 400. But when his partners left him frustrated one after the other, all that Kohli had to do was dig in deep.

He needed someone exactly like Jayant to stop England from advancing further, and in the process, the ruthlessness which originates from doing ‘boring’ things again and again was witnessed.

Towards the end of the day, English were tired, for obvious reasons. The second new ball had produced only one edge, and Adil Rashid had already gifted Kohli far too many ‘boundary’ balls on the leg side which helped India to bridge the gap. Kohli was on the top of his game.

Kohli knew England’s enthusiasm will fade away if India puts a strong stand. Kohli knew he would pummel England into submission if he stays at the crease. He knew England will lose the mental battle seeing the very sight of him — undeterred by the danger and determined to make the game his own — and he succeeded.

England can still make their way into the game if they clean up the Indian tail without wasting time. But then, Kohli is beyond them. He was unconquered at Rajkot, Visakhapatnam and Mohali. He remained undefeated on Day Three, and with overnight’s rest, he will go hard once again on the feeble English team to beat them out of the contest, and save India from batting fourth.

(Devarchit Varma is a senior writer with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)

trending this week