India suffered an unexpected collapse on the fourth day of the third Test in Leeds to allow England register a win by an innings and 76 runs. With this comprehensive win, England succeeded in leveling the five-match series 1-1.
Ollie Robinson was the star of the match as he claimed 5 wickets while Craig Overton got three wickets. India resumed the day at 215/2 but the visitors lost their last eight wickets for just 63 runs. Earlier, England were bowled out for 78 in their first innings, while England scored 432 runs in their first innings.
Speaking in the post-match presentation ceremony, India captain Virat Kohli said the middle-order collapse was down to “scoreboard pressure”.
“(It’s) basically down to scoreboard pressure. Always up against it when you get out for under 80 and the opposition puts up such a big score,” he said.
“But we did well to stay in the game yesterday, fight back as much as we could, and gave ourselves a chance. But the pressure today was outstanding from the England bowlers and eventually they got the results they wanted,” Kohli added.
Kohli, 32, however, defended India’s lower middle-order and said, “The top order has to give enough runs for the lower middle-order to step up. We did pretty well in the first two games. When you have a result like this, you can’t take too much from it. As a batting group we need to stay close and confident; even after 36 all out (against Australia in Adelaide), we came back.”
Referring to the first innings collapse, Kohli replied: “Quite bizarre, it can happen in this country, batting collapses. We thought the pitch was good to bat on, coming on nicely. But the discipline forced mistakes and the pressure was relentless. Difficult to cope when you’re not scoring runs. That caused the batting order to crumble.”
Kohli asserted that India might go with four pacers in the fourth Test at The Oval.
“I think this template works, the four seamers. For sure, we set the template; you’re playing Test cricket and we’ve bounced back in the past,” he said.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
