Indian batting mainstays Virat Kohli (7) and Rohit Sharma (19) could not weather the storm from the England pacers on day 1 as the side was bowled out for just 78 after in 40-odd overs at Headingley. Since then it has been an uphill task for the Indian team with the England openers putting up an unbeaten stand and eventually getting past the Indian score and putting up a lead thereafter.
Former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-Ul-Haq has blamed the senior duo for not being able to bat for longer period and sustain the scoreboard pressure. Sharma played 105 balls for his 19 and Kohli 17 for his 7 but all of it came to no avail in the end.
Speaking on his YouTube channel The Match Winner, Inzamam-ul-Haq stated that players have to try and start looking for runs once they spend a reasonable amount of time at the crease.
“The Indian batters never put any pressure (on the bowlers). As a cricketer, whatever the nature of the pitch is, whether there is swing or spin, if you have played 25-30 balls, your eyes, your eye coordination, your hand coordination, all these get accustomed to the pitch. You have to take some chances after that. Like Rohit Sharma, he played 105 balls. You can’t say that you are not set after playing 105 balls. You have to take responsibility and you have to play your strokes.”
Virat Kohli Was Completely Tied Up-Inzamam-Ul-Haq
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Inzamam also blamed Virat Kohli for not getting on with his innings and playing a pointless inning in the end.
“Virat Kohli too played 31 balls. But what did he do? He made 7 runs, and he was completely tied up,” Inzamam-ul-Haq added.
Mohammed Shami finally broke the 135-run opening stand giving India their first wicket on day 2. He breached through the defence of Rory Burns who scored 65 off 153 balls.
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