Virat Kohli and Co were surprised at how little grass there was on the Headingley pitch on the eve of the Test
However, the indication from Kohli was that he will continue to show faith in his four fast bowlers. “We have got no reason to change anything unless people have niggles, which we haven’t encountered since we finished the last Test,” Kohli said. “Obviously you don’t want to disturb or interrupt a winning combination, especially when the team has achieved such an incredible win and [the players] are even more excited to take the field again and do the things that we really enjoyed doing in the last game and to compete and be in those situations again when they can put their hand up and create match-winning performances for the team.”
The Lord’s win, Kohli said, was extra special because of India’s response to provocation. “It was very satisfying after what transpired on the morning of day five,” Kohli said. “It just showed this team is not going to back down and take a backward step when provoked. We play together, we play to win, we don’t let any opposition take us lightly. We know and they know that we are always going to compete and win games of cricket and take the chances in front of us.”
It all began with Jasprit Bumrah bowling short-pitched balls at James Anderson, which led the England No. 11 to believe that Bumrah was not bowling to get him out. On the fifth morning, when it was Bumrah’s turn to bat, verbals and short-pitched balls flew. Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, though, dragged India out of a precarious position with the bat and then India bowled England out inside the 60 overs they set the hosts to survive for a draw.
“I think I cannot give you the details of the words that were spoken,” Kosli said when asked what it was that provoked his team. “I think it is for the cameras and the stump mics to pick for both teams equally and then be analysed. What’s said on the field, what’s done in the moment, gives you extra motivation to get together as a team even more strongly. Then there is absolute clarity as to what you need to do.
The details of it, I don’t think it is necessary to discuss after the event. It happens in the moment, and when you are playing competitive sport, these kinds of things happen, but it’s what you do after that situation or how you get up from that situation is what matters. For us this is a new Test match, this is a fresh beginning and for us, it is another chance to show what we can do as a team and play competitive cricket and take pride in playing competitive cricket, which we have done over the last so many years so we as a team are just focusing on that.”