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Indian cricketer Virat Kohli. (FILE photo)
Virat Kohli’s ability to calculate run-chases is computer-like. Assessing the conditions, picking the bowlers, and accordingly controlling the tempo of his own innings and dictating the pace of the overall innings is what makes him lethal. India chasing 193 runs on the final day at Lord’s fell short by 22 runs in the end. Former England cricketer Steve Harmison said India missed someone like Kohli to navigate that chase.
“India has scored more hundreds, more top-order runs, and more new ball wickets, but England has got a knack of finding a way to win. Finding a way of creating an event throughout a session to change the course of the game,” Harmison said, speaking on ESPNcricinfo. “For me, India has to start believing. This is where the likes of Virat Kohli were unbelievable. In a fourth innings chase, he goes and wins the game comfortably. He would have won that game comfortably at Lord’s.”
Another former cricketer, Nasser Hussain, also had a similar opinion. “No Virat Kohli, he’s retired, he was the king of run chases. India needs to find a new one that will see them over the line,” he said on Sky Sports.
Chappell on Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja’s innings during the final day at Lord’s did divide opinions. India were reduced to 112/8 with the left-hander as the last recognized batter. He had to get the remainder of the runs with the support of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Both Bumrah and Siraj managed to stick with Jadeja for a while, defending bravely; however, the difference of opinion would be due to what kind of innings Jadeja should have played. He scored 181-ball 61 but a few experts were of the opinion that he should have batted quicker, and former Indian coach Greg Chappell too felt the same.
“The truth is, Jadeja was the only recognised batter left. If India were to chase down the target, he had to take calculated risks. His job wasn’t to leave balls and collect singles – it was to win the match. That clarity should have come from the dressing room, from the captain. He needed to be told directly: “You are the man who has to get this done. The tail’s job is to hang in there with you, but you must go for the win,” Greg Chappell wrote in his column for ESPN Cricinfo.
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