Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has lauded the Indian team led by Virat Kohli for winning the Oval Test. Virat Kohli’s side to 10 wickets on the final day to win the match by 157 runs and take a 2-1 lead in the series. The final Test at Manchester starts from September 10 without the Indian support staff being a part of it.
Praising India’s win, Michael Vaughan said that they were always the favourites to win and were the superior team from the outset. India’s second innings total of 466 laid the foundation for the team’s fightback which eventually ended in a win.
“India have always been favourites to win this series because they are the better team. They turned this Test match around from day one and that is what high-class teams do. Look at India’s batting line-up and not many are in form but they found a way. They are battle-hardened so when pressure is on they know how to play,” Vaughan wrote in The Telegraph.
India conquer The Oval – their first Test win at the venue since 1971 💪#WTC23 | #ENGvIND | https://t.co/zRhnFiKhzZ pic.twitter.com/aH7r53QMst
— ICC (@ICC) September 6, 2021
Vaughan further said England lacked the intent of scoring 291 runs on this track. He further said that with the pitch getting difficult for batting England batters would always find it tough to chase down the runs.
“There was always a chance of making 291 on day five to win but England needed intent. They could not just bat out a session and see where they were at lunch. You cannot leave it all to the last two sessions chasing 291 on a slow, low wicket. It is OK to do that in Australia at places like the Gabba where the ball is bouncing on day five but here it was more difficult and they should have shown more intent in the first session” said Vaughan.
The England openers scored 77 in the final session of day 4 They eventually added a 100 run stand as England lost their last nine wickets for just 110 runs. The Indian seamers especially Bumrah was unplayable as Ravindra Jadeja made the ball turn to pose problems for England batsmen. England losing four wickets between 141 to 146 did not help their cause as well.
Also Read: ENG vs IND 2021: 3 Defining Moments Of The Oval Test