India skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday credited the team’s lower order batsmen for exerting pressure on England’s bowlers after the hosts registered an eight-wicket win in the third Test at the Punjab Cricket Association I.S. Bindra Stadium.

After Tuesday’s win, India have now taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match Test rubber, after having won the second game at Visakhapatnam by 246 runs.

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Kohli, who remained unbeaten on six with opener Parthiv Patel (67 not out off 54 balls) as India overhauled the meagre target of 103 runs in just 20.2 overs, said the team is getting more confident after every win.

“It was amazing to see the lower order contribute which is a proud achievement. That pushes the opposition back. (Ravichandran) Ashwin is a champion No.1 all-rounder, (Ravindra) Jadeja is in the top 10, and for Jayant (Yadav) to show the maturity in his first Tests,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation.

The lower order comprising the three all-rounders — Ashwin (72), Jadeja (90) and Jayant (55) — heavily contributed with the willow during India’s first innings to take the total to 417 and give the hosts a lead of 134 runs after England were bowled out for 283.

“None of the pitches have been turners. We have just played very good cricket. We are getting more and more confident. We lost the toss, bowled them out for 280. We got motivated by that actually,” the Delhi batsman said.

The spin trio of Ashwin (4), Jadeja (4) and Jayant (4) also shared 12 wickets amongst themselves.

Kohli also hailed youngsters — Jayant and Karun Nair — for displaying maturity during the game.

“Jayant asked me for the fields he wanted. He took their spinners on. Very happy with the way the guys have stood up. Felt bad for Karun the debutant but he is a good batsman. I am sure he is looking forward to his next Test.”

The 28-year-old also praised his pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav for rising to the occasion.

“For our quicks to hurry their batsmen is great too. Shami feels the injury was a blessing in disguise. He has become more hard-working. He has come back fitter and stronger,” he said.

Meanwhile, England skipper Alastair Cook blamed the team’s poor batting effort for the back-to-back loses.

“It has been a frustrating four days. Credit to India, they outplayed us. It was a good toss to win. But if you get bowled out for 280 you won’t win games. You need to get 400 on this pitch at least,” he said.

Hailing all-rounder Ben Stokes for his contribution in the match, Cook said: “Stokes is a brilliant player. He gives balance to the team. He is only going to get better and better.”

Cook also praised teenaged opener Haseeb Hameed, who despite being injured remained unbeaten on 59 while batting at No.8, during England’s second innings.

Cook also informed that the right-hander will head back home to nurse his hand injury.

“Haseeb showing character was a positive. Unfortunately Haseeb has to go home. Showed a lot of character to come out and bat,” he said.

The teams will now head to Mumbai to play the fourth match of the series from December 8.

IANS

Ahead of the gruelling five-match Test rubber against India, former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has cautioned his side against the batting prowess of Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who is going through a purple patch in all formats of the game at the moment.

Considered among the top three batsmen in the world, Kohli has often drawn comparisons with young English batter Joe Root, which Pieterson feels isn’t a fair comparison.

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“Kohli is as good as it gets. He is right up there. Root has good numbers, but it’s unfair to even compare Joe with Virat because his numbers are just phenomenal. He plays so aggressively – sometimes it’s like – are you serious? The way he makes big runs for his team so often is just remarkable,” the swashbuckling right-hander was quoted as saying by ‘The Cricketer’ magazine.

With most touring teams failing to handle spin in sub-continent conditions, Pietersen had a piece of advice for the young English batters, who will be up against the formidable combo of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left-armer Ravindra Jadeja alongside leggie Amit Mishra.

The 36-year-old said that England will have to watch out for the doosra from the Chennai offie, who can single-handedly change the course of a match in Indian conditions.

At home, Ashwin has been in red-hot touch, picking up 153 wickets in 22 Tests. His 27 wickets, helped India complete a 3-0 clean sweep of New Zealand in the recently concluded series.

“When I’ve played against him, I could pick his doosra, so I was OK. But if England’s batsmen can’t pick his doosra they’ll have issues. I was always looking to smash his offspinner.,” Pietersen said.

“The low bounce might make it harder, but that’s part of the challenge of playing in India”.

“Batsmen have got to find themselves a boundary option in India. It’s all about rotating the strike and manoeuvring the field. I was OK in India. I enjoyed it there. I made plenty of hundreds there.

“Ashwin is a good bowler. He uses his variations very well, especially the way he approaches the crease. He’s always looking to attack and outfox a batsman,” he added.

England last toured India in 2012, when they defeated the hosts 2-1 but the upcoming series will be an exciting battle as No.1-ranked India have made rapid strides in the longest format, while England are coming from a shocking defeat to Bangladesh.

The first match of the series will be played at Rajkot from November 9.

IANS