He thought India will be given a target of 80 or 90 in 10 overs if DLS comes into play. He knew he and his team can't score 160 on this pitch and was hoping for that 80 to 90 target in 10 overs. In hindsight it wasn't the Indians that were praying for rain. It was the EnglishButtler and Mott need to resign from their respective posts imminently.
How on earth they could not read the wicket is baffling. Buttler basically handed India the game when he decided to field first.
Had England batted first, and any sscore of 150 and the chocking demons would have come back and haunted India again.