Virat Kohli : We got seven wickets for 31 runs (on 4th day), and that was the game-changer

08/14/2016

After taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 4-match series by winning the St. Lucia Test on Saturday, Virat Kohli mentioned that the seven wickets that they took in the post-lunch session on 4th day changed the game. The skipper also praised R Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha for their tons.

The final day misery they suffered in Jamaica in the last Test was in the back of the mind for all Indian players when they went into the last day of the third Test at St. Lucia. India just had 285 runs as lead at the end of fourth day’s play, and needed a big effort in the final day to get a result in the match. And that is exactly what they did. After adding 60 more runs in nine overs on 5th day, skipper Virat Kohli gave the Windies 87 overs to survive on the day. But, India wrapped everything up with 39.3 overs remaining to register an incredible series win in the Caribbean.

In the post-match presentation ceremony, Kohli seemed happy with his team’s performance, and said that the seven wickets they took in the post-lunch session on the fourth day changed the complexion of the match.

We have done quite a few firsts in the last year. In Jamaica, we understood the things that went wrong."

"We have done quite a few firsts in the last year. In Jamaica, we understood the things that went wrong. We corrected those things here on the fourth day. We got seven wickets for 31 runs (on 4th day) and that was the game-changer. We have always aimed to win series' away from India. This is a good start," Kohli said, reported PTI.

India had made three changes for the St. Lucia Test, and had brought in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja. The skipper was pleased with the performance of the trio, and hinted at a possible long-run for himself in the No.3 position.

"We made three changes and we understood Rohit needs to be backed at a particular position. I batted at No 3, Jinks (Rahane) at No 4. Rohit is dangerous at No 5 and take the game away in a session. That means I take up the extra responsibility at No 3. I don't mind that and someone like Ashwin is batting well.

We made three changes and we understood Rohit needs to be backed at a particular position."

"And we can play five bowlers. It was wonderful, commendable from Bhuvneshwar. He showed the bowlers how to bowl inconsistent areas. We lost early wickets here, that's the way Test cricket goes. I am being too critical but we will look for a complete performance in Trinidad," said Kohli.

The skipper also praised Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha for their centuries in the first innings.

"We all know Ash can bat but you particularly feel happy when a team man like Saha does well. Such a nice person, never cribs about anything, does not have a bad word to say about anybody, ready to bat at Nos 8,9, or 10," Kohli said.

India will face West Indies in the fourth and final Test of the series on August 18 at the Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain.

Also, read: Twitter reacts to West Indies' horrible collapse on final day of St. Lucia Test