Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, India were bowled out for just 78 after an excellent opening spell from James Anderson sparked...
Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, India were bowled out for just 78 after an excellent opening spell from James Anderson sparked a collapse.
In reply, the hosts were 118 for no loss when stumps were drawn on Day 1.
India’s openers had been giving the side good starts and perhaps that inspired confidence in Virat Kohli at the toss. But the decision to bat first put the visitors in the firing line and it didn’t come off well.
Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant backed the skipper’s decision to bat first while admitting that the wicket was “soft” in the morning.
“It’s part and parcel of the game. Every day the batting unit is giving hundred percent, but sometimes, it doesn’t go well,” Pant said about the disastrous outing with the bat, which came just nine months after the 36 all out in Adelaide.
“In the morning, the wicket was slightly on the softer side and they bowled in good areas. We could have applied ourselves better. We can learn from it and only move on. That’s all we can do as cricketers. You learn from your mistakes and improve.”
He also said that Kohli’s decision to bat first, despite the wicket being damp, was a collective call.
“I don’t think so,”...
