 "Virat Kohli talks to his players in team huddle before a match. Image: AFP")
Virat Kohli, one of the biggest icons of world cricket, announced his Test retirement on Monday. The 37-year-old took to his official social media handles to share the news with his followers. As Indian cricket slowly comes to terms with the thought of a future without Kohli, let’s take a look at the moment that clearly defined him as a fearless captain.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the Indian cricket team was on a tour of England for a five-match Test series. The first match at Trent Bridge was heading towards an Indian win, but rain ruined the final day and the game was drawn. So the series was 0-0 when both teams travelled to London for the second Test at the iconic Lord’s.
The memorable Lord’s Test
England won the toss and put India in to bat under overcast conditions. But things didn’t go as England planned. The Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, gave a solid start with a 126-run stand. Rohit missed out on a century, getting bowled by a James Anderson beauty for 83. But KL Rahul continued his good form and went on to score a memorable 129. India made 364 in the first innings.
In reply, England too batted well, thanks to their captain Joe Root, who scored an unbeaten 180 off 321 balls. India did get early wickets, but Root held the innings together. He found support in Jonny Bairstow and the lower order. England ended up taking a small lead of 27 runs, finishing at 391.
Things got heated in the final moments of that innings. Jasprit Bumrah bowled a fiery 10-ball over to Anderson full of bouncers and no-balls. Anderson looked angry and tempers flared. Bumrah, Kohli, and Anderson were seen exchanging words during the innings. That aggression carried into the second innings.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIndia had a tough time early in their second innings. They were reduced to 55/3, but Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane stitched together a 100-run partnership. After they got out, the lower order collapsed again and India looked in trouble at 209/8. But then came the game-changing partnership between Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
Shami smashed a fifty and Bumrah scored a gutsy 34. Their 89-run stand shocked England and shifted the momentum completely. India declared at 298/8, setting England a target of 272 runs on the final day. What happened next became history as everyone thought the game was heading towards a draw.
‘They should feel hell out there’
Before the English innings began, the Indian team gathered in a huddle. Captain Virat Kohli gave what is now remembered as one of the most iconic pep talks in cricket history. He told his teammates: “Agar koi mujhe hasta hua dikha na to samajh lena! For 60 overs, they should feel hell out there.”
From there on, India played the game like it was war. They got Rory Burns in the very first over, then Dom Sibley in the second. England were 2/2. Haseeb Hameed, Bairstow, Root all fell quickly. Moeen Ali and Sam Curran too couldn’t survive the Indian onslaught. England were reeling at 90/7.
Jos Buttler and Ollie Robinson tried to hang on, but Bumrah came back and removed Robinson with a clever slower ball. Then Siraj got Buttler. And finally, with James Anderson at the crease, Siraj bowled him out too sealing a famous Indian win by 151 runs. The Indian players exploded with joy. Kohli ran around the field, pumping his fists and roaring in celebration.