Didn't put enough pressure on England with ball in first half : Virat Kohli

[MenInG]

Virat Kohli said England could have been restricted to a lower first-innings score after India slumped to a 227-run defeat in the first Test at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday.

"I don't think we put enough pressure on them with the ball in the first half. Collectively as a bowling unit - fast bowlers and Ash - we were good in the first innings. But we also needed to contain a few more runs and create pressure," skipper Kohli said on Tuesday during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Kohli also spoke about the Chepauk surface that made life difficult for his bowlers on days one and two. "It was a slow wicket and not helping the bowlers, which made it easy for the batsmen to rotate the strike and get into the game. Just looked like not much happening in it on the first two days. But credit to England, they got stuck in and put up a big total on the board," he said.

Kohli added that the host's intent was much better as the game progressed, especially in the second half of the first innings when local all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar led a spirited fightback with the bat.

"Our body language and intensity was not up to the mark, second innings we were much better. We were better in the second half of the first innings with the bat - not the first four batters. We have to understand the things that we have done decently in this game and the things that we haven't. England were far more professional and consistent throughout the Test match than we were."

Kohli felt the toss, which England won on day one, turned out to be an important factor.

"(The toss) ended up being crucial. I didn't think it would. But we don't want to take anything away from England with the way they played. No excuses. We are a side that accepts our failures and faults and learns from them. One thing is for sure that in the next three matches we are going to give a tough fight and not let things slip away like it did in this Test."

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Virat Kohli said England could have been restricted to a lower first-innings score after India slumped to a 227-run defeat in the first Test at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday.

"I don't think we put enough pressure on them with the ball in the first half. Collectively as a bowling unit - fast bowlers and Ash - we were good in the first innings. But we also needed to contain a few more runs and create pressure," skipper Kohli said on Tuesday during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Kohli also spoke about the Chepauk surface that made life difficult for his bowlers on days one and two. "It was a slow wicket and not helping the bowlers, which made it easy for the batsmen to rotate the strike and get into the game. Just looked like not much happening in it on the first two days. But credit to England, they got stuck in and put up a big total on the board," he said.

Kohli added that the host's intent was much better as the game progressed, especially in the second half of the first innings when local all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar led a spirited fightback with the bat.

"Our body language and intensity was not up to the mark, second innings we were much better. We were better in the second half of the first innings with the bat - not the first four batters. We have to understand the things that we have done decently in this game and the things that we haven't. England were far more professional and consistent throughout the Test match than we were."

Kohli felt the toss, which England won on day one, turned out to be an important factor.

"(The toss) ended up being crucial. I didn't think it would. But we don't want to take anything away from England with the way they played. No excuses. We are a side that accepts our failures and faults and learns from them. One thing is for sure that in the next three matches we are going to give a tough fight and not let things slip away like it did in this Test."

Big words. Hope you give up captaincy because it is the biggest fault in our side.

 

[MP2011]

Pathetic from Kohli to blame Washy & Nadeem.

 

[MenInG]

England's winning start against India in the series has kept alive their chances of making it to the final ICC World Test Championship but Virat Kohli isn't bothered about the points table as the players want to focus on the things which they can control like playing good cricket in the upcoming games.

Last year, the ICC had decided to change the point-rating system of WTC due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The WTC table has now been revised to rank teams based on the percentage of points earned from the series played, meaning teams are ranked in order of percentage of points earned.

Kohli wasn't happy with the logic behind the change in the rating system. The Indian skipper said the team will go ahead with a similar mindset as nothing changes for the hosts despite England toppling India in the WTC points table.

"We will look at the upcoming games in the same way as we have looked up till now. Nothing changes for us, If suddenly the rules can change when you are in lockdown nothing is in your control at all. The only thing which is in your control is what you do on the field," said Kohli while replying to a query from ANI during the virtual press conference.

"So you are not bothered about the table or the things which are going outside. For somethings, there is no logic for something you can have a debate for hours as much as you want. The only thing you can control as the side is playing good cricket and that's our only focus regardless of who is on top of the table," he added.

The victory at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday has lifted England to first place and with 70.2 percentage points on the points table they've improved their chances of securing one of the three series results in their favour that could see them through to the final -- 3-1, 3-0 or 4-0.

Kohli said hosts' focus will be on playing good cricket in the remaining three games and the Indian skipper isn't looking at who is on the top of the WTC standings right now.

"Before this Test match you were not even thinking of England's chances and suddenly you are talking about they are on top of the table. These things keep changing all the time. Our focus is only playing good cricket," said Kohli while replying to a query from ANI.

New Zealand have already qualified for the final winning 70.0 per cent of their matches (with no other series scheduled) while India and Australia remain in contention for the other place along with England.

Meanwhile, India, who have slipped to the fourth position with 68.3 percentage points, cannot afford another loss in the four-match series and will be looking to win at least two of the remaining three matches to secure a 2-1 or 3-1 result and a place in the final.

Australia will get to feature in a Trans-Tasman summit clash if the India-England series is drawn or if England wins 1-0, 2-1, or 2-0.

Pakistan's 2-0 home win over South Africa sees them finish the series in the fifth position with 43.3 percentage points, while South Africa slip to the sixth position with 30.0 percentage points.

https://sports.ndtv.com/india-vs-en...ndia-in-world-test-championship-table-2366651

 

[Pakhs]

Its him who could not keep pressure on the opposition despite playing 5 bowlers and at least 3 of the 5 bowlers bowling really tightly. Says a lot about his captaincy that he needs every bowler to have a good day which can not happen every time.

 

[the Great Khan]

[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION] [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION] [MENTION=134981]Bhaag Viru Bhaag[/MENTION]

dont know what you what you guys think but I just feel India do better when they have a calmer thinking captain in charge. Yes Ganguly was passionate but he had moments of thinking, silent , man management. And he had Dravid and Sachin to help.

Kohli just feels like he isnt a good manager of youngsters. I felt Rahane did a much better job..

 

[Mesozoic]

The sooner this guy is stripped off captaincy the better for Indian cricket. Even as a batsman, he is on a decline and can be replaced.

But sadly, no one (not even Saurav Ganguly) has it in them to bite the bullet as the Kohli PR is just at a whole another level.

 

[Pakhs]

The sooner this guy is stripped off captaincy the better for Indian cricket. Even as a batsman, he is on a decline and can be replaced.

But sadly, no one (not even Saurav Ganguly) has it in them to bite the bullet as the Kohli PR is just at a whole another level.

He is definitely not on a decline yet as a batsman, there has been no signs of it yet at all. His captaincy started on a really low level and he has been gradually improving with experience but India has better captains in the squad that's for sure.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

If home side is complaining about the pitch being bad, then why didn't they ask the curator to make a better one?

 

[Manunited18]

Lol full of excuses, from the toss, wicket, also throwing one or two team mates under the bus.

 

[Ab Fan]

Of course, when you will put Nadeem and Sundar together from both ends and leak runs when your main bowlers are keeping things tight and ensuring pressure at one end, you can't put enough pressure on any team.

Not every time, all bowlers will do well.

 

[Pakhs]

Of course, when you will put Nadeem and Sundar together from both ends and leak runs when your main bowlers are keeping things tight and ensuring pressure at one end, you can't put enough pressure on any team.

Not every time, all bowlers will do well.

Exactly

 

[Srtfan]

[MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION] wat is ur team for next test?

 

[Ab Fan]

[MENTION=139595]Ab Fan[/MENTION] wat is ur team for next test?

Depends on the pitch. But Shahbaz doesn't have many tricks up his sleeves, he also is not economical enough. Kuldeep over him for me comfortably.

 

[docteurmanish]

Jadeja not being there hurt india
Hope kuldeep plays ahead of Nadeem .
Also pandya as a 6 th bowler , better player of spin should be considered - pandya batting is at another level right now and might help india

Winning toss is key - india need to win next toss and hope Shami and Jadeja return for tests 3 and 4 .

 

[Paka Lahori]

Why didn’t they pursue with Siraj instead of Ishant?

 

[Varun]

[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION] [MENTION=76058]cricketjoshila[/MENTION] [MENTION=134981]Bhaag Viru Bhaag[/MENTION]

dont know what you what you guys think but I just feel India do better when they have a calmer thinking captain in charge. Yes Ganguly was passionate but he had moments of thinking, silent , man management. And he had Dravid and Sachin to help.

Kohli just feels like he isnt a good manager of youngsters. I felt Rahane did a much better job..

Kohli is a hot-head, his captaincy is shaping has always been sub-par and masked by his returns with the bat.

I'm not saying Rahane is the answer - just talking about Kohli for now.

 

[Manunited18]

Hope for India next test, no buttler, no bairstow, and likely no anderson

 

[MP2011]

Hope for India next test, no buttler, no bairstow, and likely no anderson

Just like you got benefitted in this test by absence of our regulars like Jadeja, Shami and Yadav.

 

[MP2011]

And on top of that, you won all important toss.

 

[Technics 1210]

India had prepared the pitch in their favour. Batting surface for first couple of days, then pitch deteriation favouring the bowlers.

The plan was missing one factor; the toss and England batting first.

 

[Firebat]

Well then you shouldn't have picked those bowlers Virat!

Siraj and Kuldeep should have been playing in my opinion.

 

[guna]

Hope for India next test, no buttler, no bairstow, and likely no anderson

England batting is not scary by any means. Even with the above mentioned players in the team. The issue is lifeless pitch which negated Indian bowling completely in the first 2 days. England completely exposed Indian bowling on that pitch. Also playing Nadeem was a terrible decision. He does not even get into Bangladesh team as a bowler.

 

[Hasan123]

The 1st innings bowling performance from India cost them the game. You are always on the back foot when conceding over 500 in a test.