ENG vs IND: Virat Kohli doesn’t ‘believe’ in playing extra batsman despite batting collapses in Headingley Test

After playing some quality Test cricket in the first two games, Team India put up a horrendous show in the third Test and lost the contest by an innings and 76 runs. With this England have leveled the five-match series 1-1 and it will be interesting to see how the fourth game pans out. Notably, the visiting team suffered batting collapses in both innings during the Headingley Test.

Hence, many fans and experts believe India would name an extra batsman for the fourth game. So far in this series, India have gone with five specialist batters alongside wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. While this batting line-up impressed in the first two games, they terribly failed in the third Test. Hence, the popular opinion is India should include either Hanuma Vihari or Suryakumar Yadav to prolong the batting.

However, Indian skipper Virat Kohli doesn’t seem to be of the same belief. Addressing media after the thumping defeat, the 32-year-old said that if the entire batting order fails, the addition of an extra batsman won’t guarantee anything. Kohli also emphasized that his side’s primary objective has been winning Test matches. Hence, Team India might again with the 7-4 combination in the fourth game.

If your top 6 or 7 don’t do the job, then that extra guy is no guarantee: Virat Kohli

“I don’t believe in that balance. I have never believed in that balance. Either you can try and save a defeat or you can try and win a game. And we have drawn games in the past with a similar number of batters in the team. So if your top 6 or 7 don’t do the job, then that extra guy is no guarantee of bailing you out every time,” Kohli said.

“You have to accept that as a team, you need to take responsibility and pride in doing the job. If you don’t have the ability or resources to take 20 wickets going into a Test match, then you are already playing for only two results. That’s not how we play,” he added.

Meanwhile, the fourth Test gets underway on September 2 at the Kennington Oval in London. With the series poised at 1-1, the winner of the upcoming Test would earn an unassailable 2-1 lead. Hence, both sides must leave no stones unturned to emerge victoriously.