England Cricket Trolls Virat Kohli After Edgbaston Victory, And It Has A Jonny Bairstow Reference

06.07.2022 - 08:15 sports.ndtv.com

With a crushing defeat to England in the Edgbaston Test, the Indian cricket team has failed to seize the opportunity to register its fourth Test series win in the country.

Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root, who have made chasing tricky targets in Test matches fashionable, put the famed Indian pace attack to sword with imposing hundreds as England recorded their highest ever chase of 378 runs with minimum fuss to level the five-match series 2-2.

When England were rattled on the fourth afternoon by stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah, the two star batters didn't waver from their game plan.

On the fifth day, England needed just under 20 overs to knock off the remaining 119 runs. After the win, the England Cricket Twitter posted a cheeky Tweet, trolling Virat Kohli.

cricket England Cricket Team victory Joe Root Jonny Bairstow Virat Kohli Jasprit Bumrah India

Mohammed Siraj gave India a great start in the third and deciding ODI against England in Manchester on Sunday. Playing in place of the injured Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj took the wickets of Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root in the second over of the innings. He got Bairstow out for a duck with a delivery that angled in and took the leading edge to the fielder at mid-off. Then he got Root, with a ball that shaped away quite late, took the edge and fell into the hands of the fielder at second slip. Ahead of the over and in between deliveries, former Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli could be seen having extended discussion with Siraj.

"Lured Us Into Believing...": Aakash Chopra On Virat Kohli's Innings In 2nd England ODI

In the second ODI at Lord's, Virat Kohli began his innings in stylish fashion, hitting three beautiful drives off England's best bowler on the day, Reece Topley. However, he flattered to deceive as David Willey had him nicking behind for 16 as England went on to eventually thrash the visitors by 100 runs to level the series 1-1. The match saw Kohli's lean streak continue and former India batter Aakash Chopra rued the fact that it looked like Kohli was set for a big knock, but fell flat in the end.

"Go Sit On A Beach": Ex-England Captain Says Virat Kohli "Needs A Sabbatical"

Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels out-of-form India batter Virat Kohli should take "three months break" from cricket, and spend some time with his family. Kohli, who has not scored a century in nearly three years, managed scores of 11 and 20 in the recently-concluded fifth Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Highlighting Kohli's poor returns with the bat of late, Vaughan said that the 33-year-old batter needs a sabbatical from cricket, which will help him re-invent himself.

"Pange Lete Hai Full": Ex-Pakistan Captain On Virat Kohli's Behaviour vs England And Why It's Good

The opinions surrounding Virat Kohli's lean patch, and its possible end, have been wide-ranging. Some have criticised the former Indian cricket team captain, while others are optimistic that he will soon turn around the corner. His recent show in the fifth rescheduled Test against England at Edgbaston, has again got some critical response. He even had mild altercation with Jonny Bairtsow. Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has now commented that Kohli riling up rivals is a good sign for the cricketer.

"When You Aren't In Form...": Sunil Gavaskar On Virat Kohli's Edgbaston Test Failure

Virat Kohli's ploy of trying to negate swing by meeting the ball early has backfired, feels the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, whose advise in English conditions has always been about playing as late as possible. Kohli, who is now just four months short of completing three years without an international ton, scored 11 and 20 in the recently concluded rescheduled Test against England that India lost by seven wickets. "The trick to play in England is to play as late as possible. Then you are allowing the ball to do its bit and then you are playing the ball. From what little I saw in the highlights, it seemed Kohli was looking to reach for the ball, trying to play the ball early," Gavaskar said on 'Sports Today'.

What Rohit Sharma Said About India's Loss In Edgbaston Test vs England

India are defeated and deflated now. But skipper Rohit Sharma on Wednesday said only "time will tell" how the crushing loss at Edgbaston impacts the side in the long run. India let slip a golden opportunity to record their first series win in England since 2007 as the hosts, in an incredible turnaround, recorded their highest-ever run chase in Test cricket.