'I don’t care if I get him out' - James Anderson opens up on scalping Virat Kohli's wicket

India and England are all set to get in the action for the first Test match and the fans are already on the edge. The cricketing fraternity is already pumped up with the contests that are to be unfolded and the Anderson-Kohli rivalry is certainly the highly anticipated one. James Anderson has opened up about the same and pointed out how important the wicket of the Indian skipper is for the hosts.

Virat Kohli and James Anderson have been involved in the tussle of dominating each other over the course of time. When India toured England in 2014, Anderson ruled the proceedings. Bouncing back stronger, Kohli displayed his sheer flair in 2018 by taking the command over the pacer. Now with the series kicking off, this contest is one to look out for. Anderson thus stated that though he is excited about the challenge, for England it is crucial that Kohli gets out and that it doesn’t matter if it’s him or some other bowler.

“I’m definitely excited to play against him again. You always want to challenge yourself against the best in the world and he’s certainly that. We know how big a player he is for them both as a batsman and as captain, he has a huge influence on that team. So we know he’s a big wicket and to be honest I don’t care if I get him out. As long as somebody gets him out that’s the main thing. He’s an important wicket,” said Anderson during a virtual press conference on Tuesday.

James Anderson on Trent Bridge pitch

Heading into this important series, both India and England would be keen to start the series on a winning note. It is a no-brainer that the conditions affect the playing combination of the team. Speaking about the surface of the Trent Bridge, Anderson asserted that swing will play a role in the Test match.

“In years gone by, swing has played a big part here. It’s a ground where you look up [at overhead conditions] not down at the pitch. If there’s cloud cover or if it’s humid, it’s generally a good place to bowl. If there’s a bit of grass on the wicket it will carry to the keeper and slips,” he added.