We certainly felt we were right on top: Virat Kohli after rain forces draw in Nottingham

Tags: India tour of England, 2021, England vs India, 1st Test at Nottingham, Aug 04-08, 2021, India, England, Virat Kohli

Published on: Aug 09, 2021

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Indian captain Virat Kohli expressed disappointment after the first Test against England ended in a draw, with rain washing out the entire final day’s play. India needed 157 runs with nine wickets in hand to go 1-0 up in the five-match series but persistent rain did not allow a single ball to be bowled

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Indian skipper Kohli quipped, "We were expecting rain on day 3 and 4, and it chooses to arrive on day 5 when we were looking to have a good crack at the target.”

"We wanted to start strong, and heading into day five we felt we had the chance right in front of the ball. We certainly felt we were right on top, and it's a shame we couldn't complete day five," he added.

India were 52 for 1 in chase of 209, after bowling England out for 303 on Day 4. Speaking about the match, Kohli added, "We got to 50 overnight, a real positive for us. It wasn't just about survival, it was about getting the boundaries when we got the chance.”

Even though India could not win the Test, Kohli hailed his bowlers for coming back strongly following the disappointment in the WTC final. Kohli said, "It's the hard work of three-odd weeks (the lower-order batting). They were in the nets regularly, and we got a lead of 95 purely from their efforts

"I think they did a tremendous job with the bat. Most likely it will be a template going ahead [4-1 combination], but we've always been adaptable as well, to the conditions and pace of the wicket. It's going to be an exciting series to be a part of, as India-England always is," he added.

Jasprit Bumrah was the star performer with nine wickets in the Test match. Mohammed Shami and Shardul Thakur claimed four each while Mohammed Siraj chipped in with three

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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