After India’s thumping 203-run victory over England in the third Test at Trent Bridge, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has said that both skipper Virat Kohli and all-rounder Hardik Pandya should have been awarded Man of the Match.
Having suffered an agonizing 31-run defeat at Edgbaston and a humiliating innings and 159 runs loss at Lord’s, the No. 1 Test side bounced back emphatically in Nottingham. Kohli and company displayed an all-round performance.
While the batters put on 300+ runs on the board in the first innings, the bowling attack led by all-rounder Hardik Pandya (5/28) did an exceptional job to bundle out England on 161. The story remained the same in the second innings. After securing a huge lead of 168 runs, Indian batsmen piled on the agony and scored 352/7 (declared) in the second essay. Subsequently, the visiting bowlers bowled out England for 317 with Jasprit Bumrah (5/85) claiming a five-wicket haul.
Virat was the top-scorer for India both the innings. The Indian captain missed a century by just 3 runs in the first innings but he returned even stronger in the second dig to notch up his 23rd Test century (103). For his 200 runs in the match, Kohli was adjudged Man of the Match.
“I would have made them share the award. Both players played important roles in India’s victory,” Tendulkar said while replying to a question received during his live interaction on the 100MB app.
"Both of Virat Kohli’s innings was very significant. The first innings helped give India a strong foundation and the century in the second innings ensured that India set an improbable target. At the same time, I feel that Hardik also played an important role, especially in the first innings,” he added.
Pandya’s figures of 5 for 28 tore apart the English batting line-up as the hosts slumped from 108/4 to 128/9 in the first innings. Root, Bairstow, Woakes, Rashid and Broad were his victims.
“His five wickets were critical. Players like Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow are in-form batsman, and to dismiss them early was vital. He even scored a quick-fire fifty in the second innings to take the target beyond 500. Eventually, it comes down to a matter of opinion,” Tendulkar concluded.
Southampton will host the fourth Test between England and India from August 30.
