Former England player Kevin Pietersen has stated that India captain Virat Kohli’s enthusiasm and intensity proves Test cricket is everything to him. However, India recently defeated England at Lord’s by a huge margin of 151 runs in the second Test of the five-match Test series. Despite being not in favourable condition on the final day, they made a stellar return to win the encounter.
Writing in his blog for Betway, Pietersen applauded Kohli as well as the Indian side. He wrote: “Virat Kohli is fantastic for Test cricket. Knowing Virat Kohli the way that I do, I know the huge impetus he puts on following in the footsteps of his heroes. His heroes are Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and other legends of Test match cricket.”
He continued: “You can see by his enthusiasm, intensity, and the way he rallies his troops. Test cricket still means everything to him. Kohli knows that to be considered a legend of the game, he needs to deliver in this format as well as in T20. That’s why he puts so much importance on this format and at a time when Test cricket needs all the love it can get, how good is it to see a global superstar so passionate about it.”
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However, KL Rahul scored a hard-fought century in the first innings at Lord’s whereas Joe Root scored an unbeaten 180 as well but failed to take his team to the finish line as well. One of the major causes was the match-defining partnership of 89 runs between Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami in India’s second innings as well. Later, they claimed seven wickets in between to help India to a remarkable win as well. The third Test of the India-England series will take place in Headingley, Leeds from August 25.
Kevin Pietersen further wrote: “He values his team producing in all conditions, and so to have watched his team win in Australia and then have gone one up in England with a victory at Lord’s will satisfy him hugely. It’s very difficult for subcontinental teams to come to England and perform, but they would probably be 2-0 up after two matches if it weren’t for the rain at Trent Bridge.
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“The way that Mohammed Siraj bowled on day five summed it up – intensity, heart and quality. It’s amazing for Test cricket that India – who are the number one brand in the game – are so vocal and so passionate about it. It all bodes well for the format.”
