Anderson dismissed Kohli for a golden duck in India's first innings at Trent Bridge.
When India had toured England in 2014, the veteran England pacer was all over Kohli with the latter managing only 134 runs from 10 Test innings. However, the Indian skipper turned the table in the 2018 tour as he finished the Test series with 593 runs, including two centuries and three fifties.
Cricket fans around the world were excited for the Anderson versus Kohli battle this time around as well and the former won the contest hands down on Day 2 of the opening Test.
Speaking after the day’s play, Anderson said it was “unusual” to get Virat out on a first-ball duck.
“I feel like I’ve challenged Virat in that area before. He either played or missed or left it. He’s always been good enough to sort of get through and today it was just one of those days where he nicked it. Getting Kohli out that early was quite unusual,” Anderson said at the post-day press conference.
There were animated celebrations from the 39-year-old after getting the prized scalp.
“He’s such a big wicket. To bowl the ball exactly where I wanted it to and for him to nick it as well. It was just an outpouring of emotions to get the team back into the game. Getting their best player out is something that doesn’t happen all that often.”
The action on Day 2 was called off early due to rain. India ended the day at 125/4 with KL Rahul (57*) and Rishabh Pant (7*) at the crease, trailing the hosts by 58 runs in the first innings.
Earlier, Team India got off to a brilliant start as the duo of Rohit Sharma (36) and Rahul added 97 runs for the opening wicket. However, Anderson’s fiery spell (2-15), dismissing Cheteshwar Pujara (4) and Kohli cheaply, reduced the visitors to 104/3 before vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (5) got run out.
James Anderson revealed that the ploy was to bowl to the Indians on the fourth stump line.
“To be honest it’s not really something that we thought about too much, particularly to him. What we try to do as a group is trying to challenge that fourth stump area, the defence as much as possible.
“Obviously to get a couple of quick ones like that is really important, especially with Virat being such an influential player for them. Always good to get him early.”
With Kohli’s wicket, Anderson equalled legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble’s tally of 619 Test scalps.
Asked to rate Kohli’s wicket, he said: “Obviously it’s right up there. He is one among the best.”
Anderson admitted that it was frustrating to see rain curtailing the second day’s proceedings when the home team was on top.
“It was very frustrating the way the day finished. Once the cloud comes over here we’ve seen the last couple days, it can be quite bowler friendly, very difficult for batting so we wanted to stay out there as long as possible,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)