Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake liked India cricket captain Virat Kohli's straightforward words after the defeat against England in the first Test. Kohli said there's no excuse for the defeat and they will come back strong in the next match.
India lost the opening Test by 227 runs after failing to chase down 420 runs on day five. Blake posted a couple of videos on social media and praised Kohli for taking the blame.
“What I really love about Team India is that Virat Kohli doesn’t find any excuses. That’s what I really love about his captaincy, he took the blame for everything,” Blake said in a video posted on his official Twitter account.
“He said the bowlers didn’t find the right areas and that the batsmen were not as consistent. He said ‘we got to go back to the drawing board and come back’. And that’s what I love about Virat Kohli and his captaincy,” he added.
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Blake is excited to see how India fights back in the upcoming matches. They have done it on Australian soil recently after being 1-0 down.
“Test cricket is absolutely the best. Second Test should be interesting, India was 1-0 down in Australia, they are 1-0 down at their home ground now. The second Test, I’m looking forward to it.”
India's rising talents, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill were lauded by the Olympic gold medallist for their performances. While Pant scored 91 in the first innings, Gill scored a half-century on a tough fifth-day pitch.
“And also, what stood out for me was Shubman Gill, he’s a wonderful batsman. Of course, Rishabh Pant is excellent. Not every time he’s going to put on a show but he’s excellent for the game of Test cricket.
“That’s why I love Test cricket, it mentally tests you. (Cheteshwar) Pujara in Australia showed that wonderful fight and that’s what I love to see,” he added.
Blake also congratulated the English side for their victory. He mentioned the names of England captain Joe Root, who scored a double hundred, and James Anderson for a terrific bowling display in the fourth innings.
“Woah! What a wonderful Test between England and India. I must say, ‘Joe Root well played, England team well played’. Jimmy Anderson as usual…They say you get better with age, it is just a number. And ‘Jimmy keeps on showing that. Well done Jimmy’.”
