Indian skipper Virat Kohli has said his team won’t take a back step from the on-field altercation in the upcoming Tests. He says such moments fire up the team to do better. Kohli’s comments came after several verbal duels happened during the Lord’s Test between England and India.
Things started to heat up when Jasprit Bumrah unleashed a barrage of bouncers on James Anderson at the fag end of day three. Anderson exchanged a few words after the stumps. On the fifth day, England bowlers targeted Bumrah with bouncers to give it back and, in the process, said few words as well. Indian skipper gave it back when England came to bat in the fourth innings.
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Kohli has admitted his team won’t back down if the verbal altercations happen again.
“This team won’t take a backward step when provoked. We play together, we play to win,” Kohli said.
However, he refused to reveal the words that were exchanged on day five between the two teams.
“Can’t give you the details of the words that were spoken. What happens on the field gives you extra motivation. These things happen but I don’t think the details need to be discussed later,” he said.
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India were under pressure at the start of day five in the Lord’s Test. England had them on met after taking early wickets of Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma with India staring down at a certain defeat. Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah were welcomed with a barrage of short-ball ploy and were sledged by Jos Buttler and Ollie Robinson.
However, both Indian pacers channelled their anger into their game and made England pay for their mistake. Shami and Bumrah added 89 runs for the ninth wicket and propelled India to save waters.
Indian pace quartet came out with all guns blazing in the fourth innings. England crumbled under pressure for 120 runs in 51.5 overs and lost the Test by 151 runs.
India are 1-0 going into the third Test at Headingley, scheduled to begin on August 25.
