Virat Kohli returned back as Indian skipper to lead India in the first Test against Chennai. His men find themselves in a scenario where they needed to score 381 on the final day to win the first Test. Meanwhile, England needed nine wickets in 90 overs in the day’s play. England, however, ended up winning the first Test at Chennai by 227 runs.

Virat Kohli Tactically Like Viv Richards: Sanjay Manjrekar

Meanwhile, former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has likened Virat Kohli’s captaincy to that of former West Indian skipper Viv Richards. Sanjay Manjrekar said how Kohli’s aggressive attitude rubbed off on his Indian teammates. He recalled Kohli’s reaction when his decision to introduce Ashwin in the first over of the second innings yielded in a wicket

became the first Indian spinner to take a wicket off the first ball of an innings when he got the better of England opener Rory Burns. Manjrekar then said that the Indian skipper is very close to how Viv Richards was tactically. He further said that Kohli is always hopeful of making things happen. 

“If you saw Virat Kohli’s reaction when they got that wicket just before Lunch, it shows how this Team India thinks. Especially with Virat Kohli at the helm. Tactically, people have issues with his captaincy, but this is where Virat Kohli is like Vivian Richards, where they are always hopeful. And when a captain believes that you can still make a match out of this one from the current situation,” Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.

Despite leading the team well in the Test, he failed to score with the bat. He scored just 11 runs in his first innings as India were bowled out for 337 as opposed to England’s 578.  India started well on 5th day but James Anderson came up with all the experience and got quick wickets by dismissing Shubman Gill, Ajinkya Rahane and Risabh Pant in his 4 over short spell.

India lost the first test of the series by a massive 227 runs. India now have minimal chance to make it to WTC finals after lossing this match where England jumps to number 1 position in the table. Second test match between India and England starts from 13th Feb 2021. Team India will look to bounce back in this upcoming match after a big loss.