India would be the happier side going into the next Test match: Gautam Gambhir

After the first two Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s, India had their backs to the wall in their ongoing five-match Test series against England. However, Virat Kohli and his men made a strong statement and rolled over the Three Lions by a mammoth 203 runs in the third Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Ever since Joe Root won the toss and put them in to bat, virtually everything went right for the visitors.

India breached the 300-run mark for the first time in the series after which Hardik Pandya picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, also internationally, to help India garner a lead of 168 runs after the conclusion of the first innings. Kohli’s 23rd Test ton coupled with half-centuries from Cheteshwar Pujara and Hardik Pandya put forth a massive target of 521 runs for the Englishmen to track down.

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes showed some stern resistance after the Indians picked up a few early wickets. But Jasprit Bumrah wrecked havoc with the second new ball and picked up a fifer to fizzle out any hopes of an English comeback. Following the victory, Gautam Gambhir reckoned that the visiting team showed a resolute character and outplayed their opponents completely.

England was completely outplayed by India

“Brilliant performance by India in the third Test match. Obviously, being 2-0 down, this kind of performance shows the character of the entire team as well. Batters put runs on the board and the bowlers complemented, especially Hardik Pandya in the first innings. Virat Kohli was instrumental in putting runs on the board. Jasprit Bumrah picked up a fifer in the second innings,” Gambhir told The Times of India (TOI)

“I thought it was a routine performance. The batters, bowlers as well as the fielders all complemented each other and India can take a lot of positives into the next Test match. England were completely outplayed by India. Bouncing back from there shows how much mental toughness the Indian players have,” the Delhi-born cricketer added.

Gambhir also believes that the triumph will keep India in good stead ahead of the next encounter at the Rose Bowl. “The Test series is alive and running. The bowling attack looks complete after how Bumrah performed. We’ve got three quality pacers and Hardik Pandya as the all-rounder with Ravichandran Ashwin. All in all, India would be the happier side going into the next Test match,” the 36-year-old added.

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