Follow Us on Google News
LONDON: Indian captain Virat Kohli has asserted that his team was “hurt” but will not be “demoralised” by its innings defeat to England and has vowed his side will come back strong in the fourth Test at The Kia Oval from Thursday.
Kohli said the short turnaround time will not be an obstacle to put the defeat behind them. “We like to be in this situation where people start coming at us with doubts and really start questioning the ability of our team,” Kohli told reporters.
“That is the situation we love best. I can guarantee you one thing that we will not be demoralised by this loss,” he said, adding, “The guys in the changing room are hurt. When they are hurt they badly want to correct the things that didn’t go well in this game. That is how we are going to play the next two test matches.”
Kohli refused to criticise individuals for the defeat and said the entire batting unit failed in the first innings when India were shot out for 78, while the bowling group was also not consistent enough.
“The team will be open to rotate players to give them a rest during the long series but will not look to draft in an extra batsman in the remaining fixtures as it would upset their preferred balance”, Kohli added.
“It all depends on your mindset, how you arrive in the next game. And I can assure you that we’ll arrive with a lot more determination and a lot more intensity than we had in this game,” he concluded.
Joe Root’s men thrashed India by an innings and 76 runs on the fourth day of the Test on Saturday to level the five-match series, with the fourth starting at The Oval on Thursday.
India were rolled for 78 in their first innings of the third Test at Emerald Headingley and then slumped from 215-2 to 278 all out in their second as England – who scored 432 in their sole innings – romped to an emphatic, series-levelling win.
The visiting team, ranked second in the world in Tests, had a strong chance to win the opening Test in Nottingham before rain forced a draw while they beat England comprehensively at Lord’s to take a 1-0 lead in the series.