NEWS
Follow UsVirat Kohli and James Anderson have had many epic battles in the past. in 2014, the England pacer dismissed Kohli on four occasions and four years later in 2018, it was the India batsman who had the upper hand, as he did not give away a single wicket to the England pacer. However, in the first Test at Trent Bridge, Anderson got Kohli caught behind off the first ball and the celebrations in the England camp were wild.
Speaking of the celebration, Anderson said, “He’s such a big wicket. To bowl the ball exactly where I wanted it to and for him to nick it as well. It was just an outpouring of emotions to get the team back into the game. Getting their best player out is something that doesn't happen all that often.”
“I feel like I’ve challenged Virat in that area before. He either played or missed or left it. He’s always been good enough to sort of getting through and today it was just one of those days where he nicked it. Getting Kohli out that early was quite unusual,” he added.
Anderson believes the plan to ball a fourth stump line to the Indian batsmen worked as it the visitors were reduced from 97 for no loss to 112 for 4. "What we try to do as a group is trying to challenge that fourth stump area, the defence as much as possible. Obviously to get a couple of quick ones like that is really important, especially with Virat being such an influential player for them. Always good to get him early,” Anderson, who is one scalp away from going past Anil Kumble as the third-highest wicket-taker in Tests, said.
India are still 58 runs behind England, with KL Rahul (57*) and Rishabh Pant (7*) still at the crease. They will look to have a slender lead by the end of Day Three.