Before England began their chase on the final day, Kohli gathered his players in a huddle and delivered a now-famous line: "For 60 overs they should feel like hell out there." India had set England a challenging target of 272, and from the first over, Kohli’s words translated into fierce on-field energy
Kohli, speaking after the win, said, "A bit of tension on the field really helped us and really motivated us to finish this game." (Pic: AFP)
Four years ago today, India scripted one of their most iconic Test victories at the revered Lord’s Cricket Ground, defeating England by 151 runs in the second Test of the series. The match will forever be remembered not just for the cricketing brilliance, but for then-captain Virat Kohli’s impassioned speech that lit a fire under his team.
Before England began their chase on the final day, Kohli gathered his players in a huddle and delivered a now-famous line: "For 60 overs they should feel like hell out there."
India had set England a challenging target of 272, and from the first over, Kohli’s words translated into fierce on-field energy. Jasprit Bumrah struck early, forcing Rory Burns into a misjudged shot that flew off his gloves to Mohammed Siraj. The Indian team erupted, closing in on Burns with stares and words.
From there, England collapsed under relentless pressure, slipping to 67/4. One of the few blemishes came when Jos Buttler offered a thick edge to Kohli at first slip, only for the usually reliable fielder to drop a regulation chance. Social media erupted with criticism, but the Indian skipper was quick to apologise to Bumrah and swiftly refocused his side.
That missed opportunity did little to deter India’s momentum. The pacers, particularly Siraj and Bumrah, maintained their aggressive lines, extracting bounce and seam movement on a deteriorating fifth-day pitch. England's batters struggled to survive the cauldron created by the visiting bowlers and an energized Indian field unit.
As the game reached its climax in the final hour, England were hanging by a thread. Siraj, whose fire had been visible all through the innings, delivered the final blow, crashing James Anderson’s off-stump to trigger wild celebrations among the Indian players. Siraj finished with 4 wickets, while Bumrah added 3 to his tally.
Kohli, speaking after the win, said, "A bit of tension on the field really helped us and really motivated us to finish this game." His leadership, combined with India’s collective grit and resilience, sealed a memorable Test match victory at the Home of Cricket.
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