We really struggled with the new water breaks rules in play, says Virat Kohli

India won the first Test against West Indies by their highest ever margin in terms of runs as they clinched the match by a margin of an innings and 272 runs. With only one more match to go in the Test series West Indies, at the most, they can hope to tie the series now. 

“That was a bit to do with the umpires pushing us as well, with these new rules coming in of not drinking too much water,” Kohli said after the game when asked of improved over-rates.

India went into the Test match with five regular bowlers with only two pace bowlers and three frontline spinners. The decision paid off as spinners picked up 17 out the 20 wickets that India picked against West Indies. Skipper Kohli also had a theory for picking five regular bowlers rather than four.

“We wanted to have the extra guy because of the heat factor “Four bowlers would have struggled in these conditions and we just wanted to give them bit more breaks in between and still have quality bowling coming at the opposition,” he concluded.