Skip to main content

Kohli wants Hardik Pandya to be India's Ben Stokes

After registering an emphatic win against Sri Lanka in the first Test match, Indian captain Virat Kohli on Saturday heaped praises on his bowlers for delivering a 304-run victory on a wicket that "was really good to bat on".

India vs Sri Lanka - Complete Coverage | Full Schedule

India had declared on 240 for 3, thus putting up a massive target of 550 for the Lankan team to win. However, a splendid bowling performance by spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Aswhin, who both took three wickets each, restricted them to 245, on the final day.

"The bowlers came up with different plans and persisted long enough to get those breakthroughs. And at the beginning of the series, if you get a victory like that on a surface that is not offering much, it really gives the team a confidence of doing it once more if we get the surface like that again," Kohli said.

"This time around, the wicket was really good to bat on, even till today if you applied yourself, you could have easily scored runs on that surface. So we had to work on getting wickets and we did," he added.

When asked whether this was India's best performance, Kohli said "There are still some areas where we think we need to work. We will look back and try to improve on especially not letting the lower order to get away with few runs and there are some things which we can identify and work on."

Kohli also lauded Hardik Pandya for his performance saying his presence in the side gives India a "balance," when the team plays Tests away from home.

He said the 23-year-old all-rounder can become an useful asset in team and likened him with England all-rounder Ben Stokes.

"I think when you play away from home that one guy gives you lot of balance and I think Hardik can be that balance for us especially playing cricket away from home. If he grows into confidence, then you can see someone else like Ben Stokes. What he does for England brings in great balance as an all-rounder. I see no reason why Hardik Pandaya can't become that for India," Kohli said.

Earlier, skipper Virat Kohli (103) struck his 17th Test century that included five boundaries and one six, while opener Abhinav Mukund smashed 81.

India will now lock horns with Lanka in the second Test, beginning August 3 at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.

Stay updated on the go with Sify Live Scores App. Click here to download it for your device



via Sify.com http://ift.tt/2vTfo6H
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Manchester United to do everything to get Rashford ready for Liverpool clash

Leeds [UK], Jan 16 (ANI): Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said they will do 'everything' they can to get Marcus Rashford in shape for the Liverpool clash. Rashford sustained a back injury on Thursday during the FA Cup clash against Wolves on Thursday and left the field. "He's a quick healer and he'll play through some pain, definitely, if he's capable, if it's not a bad, bad injury. But we've seen that he's struggled lately - but more when he's been tired," Goal.com quoted Solskjaer as saying. "He wasn't on long enough to be tired so I think it might have been something that just happened there and then. He's been absolutely top this season so we'll do everything we can to get him fit for Sunday. If he's not then we'll play without him," he added. Manchester United secured a 1-0 win against Wolves with the help of Juan Mata's strike. Manchester United will take on Liverpool in Premier L...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pogba is one of best players when in form: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Leeds [UK], Dec 7 (ANI): Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has praised midfielder Paul Pogba, saying that he is one of the best players in the world when he is in good touch. "Paul is going to play when he gets his fitness. He is one of the best players in the world when he's in form and we just need to give him time to be 100 per cent fit," Goal.com quoted Solskjaer as saying. Pogba has endured a frustrating 2019-20 campaign to date, having only managed five Premier League appearances in total due to a string of fitness issues. He is currently recovering from an ankle injury and last played for the club on September 30 against Arsenal. Solskjaer had said that the France international will be out of action till December. "It might be 45 minutes in the first game, it might be half an hour, it might be 90. It depends on what game he comes back in and I'm looking back to get Paul back to where I had him about a year ago," Solskjaer said. ...
Post a Comment
Read more