Former England captain Michael Vaughan said that Virat Kohli-led Team India handled the pressure much better than their England counterparts. He added that the Indian captain had brought some of the tension on himself to remain in the spotlight, especially since he is not getting enough runs.
The second Test played at Lord’s saw face-offs between the players from India and England. Both the teams were engaged in a war of words and played aggressive cricket.
"India, no question. Sometimes Virat Kohli brings in the tension on himself, you know he likes the spotlight on himself, he's not getting the runs at the minute so the spotlight is still on Virat Kohli because of the way he acts, the way that he gets the team going,” Michael Vaughan said to Cricbuzz.
He, however, appreciated Virat Kohli for his attacking brand of cricket. He pointed out at the pep-talk that Kohli gave his team right before the start of the fourth innings. Kohli had given a fiery talk and insisted his players make it hell for England in the last two sessions.
"I thought his speech, of him, saying to his fielders and his team on that last day at Lord's, 'make it hell for 60 overs, I don't want you smiling at the England players' - it's the best message and it's exactly how you should play high-level sport.
You're up against an England side in their own backyard, give them nothing. You know, why would you smile at them, why would you be nice to them on the pitch. Off the field, shake hands do whatever you wish,” he said.
The former England player added that cricket today is played in a much friendlier manner because of various T20 leagues across the world.
"I do look at Test cricket, cricket, in general, I sometimes think it has gone quite friendly these days because they all play in these franchise teams around the world, they all know each other a lot more than we did in our days. I like a bit of heat and so far, the Indian side have coped with the heat better than the England side," he concluded.
(With Cricbuzz inputs)
