‘Getting Virat Kohli Out Early Was Quite Unusual’ : James Anderson

James Anderson dismissed Virat Kohli for a first-ball duck on day 2 of the first Test in Trent Bridge. It was for the first time that the veteran pacer dismissed Kohli in England after 2014. From being 97/1 at the start of the second session Anderson’s double strike brought India down to 125/4.

After the end of the day’s play, James Anderson shared his thoughts on getting Virat Kohli’s wicket for yet another time in Test cricket. Anderson pointed out that he has troubled Kohli in that corridor of uncertainty before.

Getting Virat Kohli Was Out Early Was Unusual: James Andeson

“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 get through and today it was just one of those days where he nicked it. Getting Kohli out that early was quite unusual” said Anderson.

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Anderson did not hide his emotions on dismissing Kohli. The excitement was written all over his face when he went to his teammates to celebrate Kohli’s wicket.

“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.”

Getting those two wickets, Anderson increased his wickets tally to 619 and equalled with Anil Kumble in the process. Muttiah Muralitharan still leads the list with 800 Test wickets to his name.

India ended day 2 on 125/4 after rain played spoilsport in the second session. KL Rahul was unbeaten on 57 and with was Rishabh Pant unbeaten on 7. Ravindra Jadeja is the next batsman to follow with Shardul Thakur also in the line-up.

Also Read: Watch: Jonny Bairstow’s Brilliant Direct Hit To Dismiss Ajinkya Rahane

“He Is A Fantastic Player”: James Anderson Praises Rishabh Pant

In the same press conference, James Anderson also praised Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. Pant’s reverse scoop to Anderson in the India series is one one of the best memories from that series. On day 2, in only the fourth ball he faced, Pant hit an attacking shot to James Anderson which fetched him three runs. Pant made his intensions clear right from the star against the pacer with most Test wickets to his name.

“We’ve got a taste of what he was planning to do. He used his feet on the third ball he faced today. We know the way he’s going to play. He’s aggressive, he’ll think outside the box. He might play the odd shot that’s out of the ordinary and we just have to accept that he’s a fantastic player, fantastic talent,” Anderson was quoted as saying after the second day’s play.