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Virat Kohli savaged over 'horrible' act in ugly India capitulation

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·4-min read
Virat Kohli, pictured here in action during the third Test between India and England.
Virat Kohli's lean run with the bat continued as India lost the third Test against England. Image: Getty

Indian cricket fans have turned on Virat Kohli after the tourists collapsed once again to hand the third Test to England.

Ollie Robinson struck four times with the second new ball as England thrashed India by an innings and 76 runs to level the series at 1-1 on day four at Headingley.

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Resuming on an overnight score of 2-215, India capitulated to be all out for 278 before lunch.

India's middle-order once again failing miserably against the pace and guile of the England fast bowlers, the tourists losing 8-63 to hand victory to the Poms.

Cheteshwar Pujara (91) was the first to be dismissed, shouldering arms to a Robinson in-swinger that was given out leg before wicket on review.

Captain Kohli (55) then edged one to Joe Root soon after completing his half-century, India losing their two best batsmen within balls of each other.

Ajinkya Rahane's dismissal for 10 off James Anderson all but ended India's hopes of overhauling the England lead, with Ravindra Jadeja's late flourish of 30 offering some entertainment but eventually being in vain.

Robinson, who was named player of the match, finished with figures of 5-65, while Craig Overton chipped in with three wickets.

Kohli put the collapse down to scoreboard pressure, saying it was a tall order to come back into the game after conceding a huge first-innings lead when they made just 78.

"We did well to stay in the game yesterday, fight back as much as we could, and gave ourselves a chance," he said.

"But the pressure today was outstanding from the England bowlers."

Fans were highly critical of Kohli's dismissal, the Indian captain once again out edging to the slips like we've seen on multiple occasions of late.

Others also condemned Kohli's decision to bat first, which looked very foolish when India were bundled out for 78.

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Opting to bat on day one, India were undone by a superb spell of new-ball bowling by veteran Anderson.

In reply, led by skipper Root's wonderful 121 and half-centuries by Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed and Dawid Malan, England were bowled out for 432, claiming a 354-run lead.

"Quite bizarre (the first innings), it can happen in this country," Kohli said.

"We thought the pitch was good to bat on, coming on nicely. But the discipline forced mistakes... it's difficult to cope when you're not scoring runs."

Ollie Robinson, pictured here celebrating after dismissing Virat Kohli in the third Test between England and India.
Ollie Robinson celebrates after dismissing Virat Kohli in the third Test between England and India. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Root praised his team for the win after they were comprehensively outplayed in the second Test at Lord's.

"It was a fantastic, clinical performance ... look at the talent in the dressing room, we know we're capable, just have to be more consistent," he said.

"And yesterday, to hold the rate and build pressure, when it wasn't going for us - we knew with the second new ball we always had an opportunity today."

With the win, Root overtook Michael Vaughan with his 27th victory from 55 games in charge of England.

The fourth Test starts at The Oval on Thursday with the series tied 1-1.

with AAP

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