India thrashed England by 317 runs in the second Test to level the four-Test series 1-1.
Chasing 482 in the fourth innings, the visitors got bowled out for 164 in the second session on Day 4. It was a listless batting performance from England as none of the batsmen managed to touch the 50-run mark in the second essay.
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For India, debutant Akshar Patel picked up (5-60) a five-wicket haul in the final innings while R Ashwin (3-53) and Kuldeep Yadav (2-25) also chipped in with significant performances.
Speaking after the match, Kohli hailed his team for scoring 600+ runs across the two innings on a difficult track.
“The conditions were challenging for both sides, but we showed more application with the bat. We didn’t panic out there looking at the turn and bounce, we showed grit, got into the game and scored 600 runs in the game. We know our bowlers would do the job for us if we put up these runs,” he said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
The Indian skipper also believes that the toss wouldn’t have mattered much in this Test match.
Notably, India won the toss and posted 329 in the first innings on the back of Rohit Sharma’s glorious 161. Subsequently, the hosts bowled out England for a paltry 134 to take a massive 195-run lead.
“The toss wouldn’t have mattered much in this game to be honest, because if you looked at our second innings, we got 300 as well. It wasn’t unfair if the toss went either way. Both teams should be in the game from the first session onwards, whether it is on spinning to seaming tracks, and that exactly was the case in this game,” he explained.
Kohli hailed Rishabh Pant for doing an impressive job behind the stumps in both innings.
“Rishabh Pant has really worked hard in Australia when he moves with the gloves you can see the difference in his reactions. He has shed a lot of weight and has worked hard on himself. It is showing, the way he kept with so much turn and bounce, credit to him. We want him to keep improving as a keeper because we know the value he brings to the team.”
The captain also had a word of praise for debutant Akshar Patel, who finished the match with seven wickets to his name.
“It is a very, very special moment for Akshar. He would’ve played the first game as well if he didn’t have that niggle. He was keen to step on, and if you get that kind of pitch, he was all smiles and couldn’t wait to get the ball in his hands. Hope he builds on from here, he has an important couple of games ahead.”
The third Test will be played in Ahmedabad from February 24.