Virat Kohli was an elated captain as India thrashed England by 157 runs in the fourth Test at the Oval to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Chasing 368 in the fourth innings, the hosts were 77/0 at stumps on Day 4 and lost only two wickets in the first session on Day 5. But Indian bowlers turned things around in the post-lunch session to left England reeling at 193/8.
Jasprit Bumrah (2-27) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-50) took two wickets each in the second session while Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur picked up one scalp each. In the final session, Umesh (3-60) completed the formalities by removing Craig Overton and James Anderson, bundling England out for 210.
WATCH – Bumrah cleans up Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow with two brutal deliveries
Speaking after the game, Kohli said he is proud of the character shown by his troops after being dismissed for a paltry 191 in the first innings on Day 1.
“Well, I think the best thing about both the games has been the character the team has showed. We are not looking to survive in this game, we are here to win. Really proud of the character the team has showed,” the Indian skipper said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“I said at Lord's as well, I am proud of the character among the top three bowling performances I have witnessed as India captain. It's quite relative what you call flat. The conditions were hot and we knew were in with an opportunity when Jadeja was bowling into the rough. The bowlers were good with the reverse swing today. We believed we could get all 10 wickets, we had the belief. As soon as the ball started revering, Bumrah said give me the ball. He bowled that spell and swung the game in our favour with those two huge wickets. I think you pointed his performance,” he added.
Having conceded a first-innings lead of 99 runs, the visitors bounced back in the game on the back of Rohit Sharma’s stunning 127 and half-centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara (61), Shardul Thakur (60) and Rishabh Pant (50).
Kohli praised Rohit for his maiden overseas Test ton and Shardul for his twin fifties in the game.
“Rohit's innings was fantastic. What Shardul has done in this game stands out. His two fifties deflated the opposition. I think he batted well in both the innings.”
“Everyone is happy with the win. It gives us more motivation to win the next Test. We have the belief, we are just looking forward to the opportunities. Whatever the noise's on the outset, it doesn't bother us. The fans have been amazing as well,” the Indian captain concluded.
The fifth and final Test will be played at Old Trafford from Friday (September 10).
(Inputs from Cricbuzz)
