IND beat ENG Lord’s Test – KL Rahul: Considering India’s abysmal records at Lord’s in Tests, not many had their hopes up. But thanks to spirited performances from KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj besides Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli’s Team India beat Joe Root’s England by 151 runs and register a historic win in the 2nd Test on Monday. Rahul, one of the architects of the triumph, said the skirmishes on-field motivated each one of us & the entire Indian team answered back in style..
Test cricket, how I’ve missed you 🤍🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/ssdqeiX7vQ
— K L Rahul (@klrahul11) August 17, 2021
“This team operates at a different level. You have a go on one of us, 11 of us will comeback, this is the kind of a team we are and that’s the kind of bonding we have. If you go after one of our guys, that means you are going after the whole team. The bowlers were really keen and we wanted to be in the middle and give our all in the 60 overs that we had. I’m looking forward to the next three games. It will definitely be exciting and both teams are going to come hard,” declared KL Rahul.
IND beat ENG Lord’s Test: KL Rahul says, ‘this team operates at a different level, have a go on one of us, 11 will comeback’
Rahul also said India wanted to win at Lord’s after a crushing loss in 2018.
“The win will be right up there for me and the team. Coming to England, playing at Lord’s have always hype about it. As a team and as an individual we look forward to it, especially after what happened in 2018. We lost really badly. So, we wanted to come back here and win the game. It will go down as one of our best. A win at Lord’s is always special,” KL Rahul said at the post-match press conference on Monday.
IND vs ENG 2nd Test: However, it wasn’t smooth sailing. The match was topsy-turvy with Joe Root’s unbeaten 180 giving England an upper hand. But Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara slogged in and played a wonderful 100-run partnership to keep India afloat. After their wickets, a lot was expected of Rishabh Pant but he fell too with the lead at only 167, not much for a win. With three wickets in hand, it was time for Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami to England a lesson or two on batting.
The duo added a record 89-run stand for the 9th wicket at Lord’s to give India a 271-run lead. Shami brought up only his 2nd Test half-century at a crucial time, pumped up by heated exchanges between James Anderson and Mark Wood. But it also paved India’s win.
“The partnership between Bumrah and Shami was so, so good. When your bowlers go out and show so much heart and put up a fight, it pumps you up. The bowlers were waiting to have a crack at them. We knew after the lunch the declaration was to come and bowlers were really looking forward to it. We knew the pitch was a bit up and down and there would be opportunities. So, we were very, very keen and excited as a pack. So, to go out there and put up a fight was very special,” said KL Rahul, who was also adjudged the Man of the Match for his brilliant 129.
IND vs ENG 2nd Test: However, KL Rahul didn’t want to make a fuss about the exchanges even though skipper Virat Kohli didn’t let it go. KL Rahul said it showed that both teams were keen on winning and that brought up those exchanges. But he warned that if James Anderson, Mark Wood or even Ollie Robinson go after any of the Indian players, the entire team will give it back on the field.
“For me personally, it only shows how desperately both teams want to win. When both teams go at each other, it shows both teams desperately want to win a Test match. That’s how cricket is played. We as a team are never shy to say a word or two. If someone goes after one of our players, then the rest of the 10 guys will really get pumped as well,” KL Rahul said.
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Both teams will now take an 8-day break before shifting base to Leeds for the 3rd Test from August 25.
