England vs India: Will go with same bowling template for Lords Test, says Virat Kohli

Rain played spoilsport in the first of the five-match Test series between England and India. The visitors seemed to have a stronghold on the game but the weather was not something that favored them in the end. Day 5 was washed out with India requiring just over 150 runs to win with nine wickets in hand. Had the weather been favorable, India would have probably bagged the victory. The impressive bowling performance in the match convinced skipper Virat Kohli to go with the same combination for the second Test that will be played at the iconic Lords stadium. The Indian skipper said that they would continue playing a 4-1 seam-spin combination in the match unless conditions at Lords forced them to go with something else.

It is a change from the bowling combination India had used in the final of the ICC World Test Championship. Kohli had used two spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

The plan did not really work out at the time since there is usually not much help for the spinners in English conditions. Ashwin was therefore axed and Shardul Thakur took his place in the playing XI.

Thakur took four wickets in the first Test while Jadeja scored an important half-century for India.

“Most likely it will be a template going ahead (4-1 combination), but we’ve always been adaptable as well, to the conditions and pace of the wicket. The conditions and the pace on the wicket needs to be seen, but this team will be our template,” the Indian skipper said on Sunday.

Lower order getting runs

The Indian skipper’s decision could also be influenced by the batting capabilities of the lower order. In low-scoring Test matches, the tail-enders’ contributions could become the difference-maker.

In the WTC final against New Zealand, that was missing as the lower order batters got out for low scores. However, against England at Trent Bridge, there was a significant improvement.

The final three wickets in India’s first innings added 73 runs, 28 of which were scored by ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah. It had played a very significant role in getting India to a good total and put the English under pressure.

India’s lower order had impressed in the Test series against Australia a few months back as well.

“It’s hard work of three odd weeks for our bowlers with the bat. We were talking of a lead of 40-odd but we ended up with 95 and those runs were gold dust,” Virat Kohli said.

We were on top of the game – Virat Kohli

Kohli felt that his men had the game in the bag and would have won it had there not been rain. The scoreline, in fact, does suggest so.

“On day five we knew we had our chances. We certainly felt like we were on top of the game. Getting that lead was crucial, but it’s a shame we couldn’t finish day five.

“Getting to fifty overnight was important. This is exactly what we wanted to do; start strong. We just didn’t want to play for survival. Our intent kept us ahead,” the Indian skipper said.

“We were expecting rain on days three and four but it chose to come on day five. It would have been enjoyable to play and watch, but it’s a shame. England and India have always been a blockbuster, and [we are] looking forward to the next Test,” he concluded.