Kohli elated after sensational win over England

India captain Virat Kohli promised there would no let-up from his side following an impressive 151-run win over England in the second Test at Lord’s on Monday he labelled a “day late” Independence celebration.

This match was in the balance early on the final day before a ninth-wicket stand of 89 between Mohammed Shami (56 not out) and Jasprit Bumrah (34 not out), both of whom made their highest Test scores, allowed Kohli to declare India’s second innings on 298-8.

That left England chasing a target of 272 but, with Mohammed Siraj taking 4-32 and fellow paceman Bumrah 3-33, they slumped to 120 all out.

Victory, which left Kohli’s men 1-0 up in this five-match series, came just a day after India’s Independence Day on August 15 and the tourists enjoyed plenty of vocal support at Lord’s.

Reflecting on what was just India’s third win in 19 Tests at the ‘home of cricket’, Kohli said: “I feel super proud of the whole team. The pitch didn’t offer much in the first three days. 

“The way we played this morning with Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Burmah with the bat was important. We believed we could get them out in 60 overs and the bowlers were outstanding.”

England have now gone seven Tests without a win -- a sequence that includes a campaign loss in India.

And Root, perhaps somewhat harshly, blamed himself for England’s lack of tactical discipline with the ball on Monday after his pacemen repeatedly bowled too short at Shami and Bumrah.

“As captain, you take responsibility. I don’t think I coped with that partnership well enough... Maybe we could have looked at attacking the stumps a little bit more frequently, using the short ball as more of a surprise,” he said.

The teams now head to Headingley, Root’s Yorkshire home ground, for a third Test starting on August 25, with the England skipper insisting: “There’s still a lot of cricket to be played in this series.