ENG v IND 2018: WATCH – Virat Kohli blasts journalist on ‘best travelling Indian team’ question

Ahead of the fifth Test against England, Ravi Shastri had termed Virat Kohli and his men as the best performing lot among all the Indian teams of last 15-20 years.

Kohli scored 593 runs in five Tests against England but couldn't save India from a series defeat | Getty

India skipper Virat Kohli lost his composure after his team’s 118-run defeat in the fifth Test against England at The Oval on Tuesday (September 11).

Addressing the press conference after the match, Kohli argued with a journalist when the latter asked whether his team is the best travelling Indian side in the last 15 years.

It is worth mentioning here that India’s head coach Ravi Shastri had termed Virat Kohli and his men as the best performing lot among all the Indian teams of last 15-20 years.

“We’ve to believe we are the best side, why not?” Kohli retorted when asked if the tag of best Indian Test team of last 15 years put extra pressure on him and his troops.

When the question was repeated, Kohli asked the journo: “What do you think?”

The reporter replied: “I’m not sure”, and then the Indian captain responded saying: “You’re not sure? That is your opinion. Thank you.”

Here’s the video:

Ahead of the fifth Test against England, Shastri had said: "As hard as our guys tried, England were one-up on us there. Nothing to take away (from them), the endeavour of this team is to travel well, compete and win. If you look at the last three years, we have won nine matches overseas and three series (against West Indies and twice in Sri Lanka)."

"I can't see any other Indian team in the last 15-20 years that has had the same run in such a short time, and you have had some great players playing in those series. So the promise is there, and it's just about getting tougher mentally. You have got to hurt when you lose matches because that's when you look within and come out with the right kind of answers to combat such situations and get past the finishing line. One day you will if you believe,” he further added.

There were plenty of hopes from Team India as they embarked on their England tour after winning 9 of their last 10 Test series. However, the No. 1 ranked Test side couldn’t quite prove their mettle on English soil.

While India lost the first Test at Edgbaston by a close margin of 31 runs, they suffered a humiliating innings and 159 runs defeat in the second Test at Lord’s. India bounced back emphatically to register a comprehensive 203-run victory in the third Test at Trent Bridge but in the penultimate Test, Kohli and his men let go the early advantage and eventually coped a 60-run loss.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 12 Sep, 2018

    Share Via