India vs England 4th Test: Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday hit out on people questioning the pitch during the pink ball Test as the match got over within two days. Virat took the example of India's forgettable&nbsp;tour to New Zealand in early 2020 when the Men in Blue lost both the Test matches within three days.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-4th-test-possible-xis-of-india-and-england-as-they-head-to-thrilling-finale-367649" hreflang="en">IND vs ENG, 4th Test: Possible XI's of India and England as they head to thrilling finale</a>

"Let me ask you a question - do we play matches so that they last 5 days or do we play to win?"

"We lost in New Zealand inside 3 days. No one said anything about the pitch back then. Our strength is we focus on ourselves and not the pitch. We need to be honest with ourselves about this narrative (of spinning tracks)," Kohli said on the eve of the fourth Test between India and England at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium.

The third Test between India and England was over in 842 deliveries making it the fastest win for the Men in Blue in the history of the format. Ashwin and Axar scalped 18 wickets to help hosts win by 10 wickets.&nbsp;

"I believe there is too much noise about spinning tracks. Our media should present the view that spinning tracks are fine in the subcontinent. The reason behind our success as a team is that we haven't cribbed about any surface we have played on. We have always tried to improve," the India captain added.

"No clue why the focus is so much on the ball or the pitch. Neither sides batsmen were good enough to tackle the pitch in 3rd Test. I maintain it was a case of the skill on display rather than the pitch being a bad one."

India vs England 4th Test: Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday hit out on people questioning the pitch during the pink ball Test as the match got over within two days.

India vs England 4th Test: Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday hit out on people questioning the pitch during the pink ball Test as the match got over within two days. Virat took the example of India's forgettable tour to New Zealand in early 2020 when the Men in Blue lost both the Test matches within three days. ALSO READ: IND vs ENG, 4th Test: Possible XI's of India and England as they head to thrilling finale "Let me ask you a question - do we play matches so that they last 5 days or do we play to win?" "We lost in New Zealand inside 3 days. No one said anything about the pitch back then. Our strength is we focus on ourselves and not the pitch. We need to be honest with ourselves about this narrative (of spinning tracks)," Kohli said on the eve of the fourth Test between India and England at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. The third Test between India and England was over in 842 deliveries making it the fastest win for the Men in Blue in the history of the format. Ashwin and Axar scalped 18 wickets to help hosts win by 10 wickets. "I believe there is too much noise about spinning tracks. Our media should present the view that spinning tracks are fine in the subcontinent. The reason behind our success as a team is that we haven't cribbed about any surface we have played on. We have always tried to improve," the India captain added. "No clue why the focus is so much on the ball or the pitch. Neither sides batsmen were good enough to tackle the pitch in 3rd Test. I maintain it was a case of the skill on display rather than the pitch being a bad one."

'Do we play matches so that they last 5 days?': Virat Kohli hits out at pitch critics

Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who is considered one of the best in the game of cricket, has added another feather to his cap. However, this time the achievement is off-field as Kohli became the first Indian celebrity to have 100 million followers on Instagram.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-barcelona-president-josep-bartomeu-arrested-over-barcagate-scandal-against-lionel-messi-co-367176" hreflang="en">Ex Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu arrested over 'Barcagate' scandal against Lionel Messi &amp; Co</a>

Virat defeated Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, and Deepika Padukone to take the top spot. The Indian cricket captain has joined the elite list with the likes of &nbsp;Dwayne Johnson, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar.&nbsp;

Bollywood divas Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Deepika Padukone have 60 and 53.3 million followers respectively. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has over 51.2 million followers.&nbsp;

With this achievement, Kohli became the fourth most followed sportsperson behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar. Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo sits clear on the top with 266&nbsp;million followers.&nbsp;

Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who is considered one of the best in the game of cricket, has added another feather to his cap. However, this time the achievement is off-field as Kohli became the first Indian celebrity to have 100 million followers on Instagram.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who is considered one of the best in the game of cricket, has added another feather to his cap. However, this time the achievement is off-field as Kohli became the first Indian celebrity to have 100 million followers on Instagram. ALSO READ: Ex Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu arrested over 'Barcagate' scandal against Lionel Messi & Co Virat defeated Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, and Deepika Padukone to take the top spot. The Indian cricket captain has joined the elite list with the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar. Bollywood divas Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Deepika Padukone have 60 and 53.3 million followers respectively. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has over 51.2 million followers. With this achievement, Kohli became the fourth most followed sportsperson behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar. Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo sits clear on the top with 266 million followers.

Virat Kohli becomes first Indian celebrity to have 100 million followers on Instagram

Team India beat England in pink ball Test at world's largest cricket stadium

Virat Kohli joins an elite list of athletes after getting 100 million followers on Instagram

Indian captain Virat Kohli will be looking to end the unusual century drought and surpass former Australia captain Ricky Ponting to create a world record when he steps out to bat in the upcoming fourth Test against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashwin-root-and-mayers-in-contention-for-icc-player-of-the-month-for-february-367383" hreflang="en">Ashwin, Root and Mayers in contention for ICC Player of the Month for February</a>

The prolific India batsman has not scored a century since November 2019, where he smashed a ton against Bangladesh in a Day/Night Test at the Motera Stadium. Despite scoring two half-centuries in the series, Kohli has failed to convert them into hundreds yet.&nbsp;

If Virat scores a century at Motera, the 32-year-old will overtake former Aussie legend Ricky Ponting in the list of captains with most international hundreds. Both batting stalwarts are tied at the top position in the list with 41 centuries to their name.

However, along with this, Virat is also set to equal MS Dhoni's record most matches as captain of the Indian team in Tests when he takes on the visitors on fourth and final Test match.&nbsp;

The batting great is also 17 runs away from 12,000 international runs as captain, a feat achieved only by Australia's Ricky Ponting and South Africa's Graeme Smith before him. As a skipper, Australia's Ponting scored 15,440 runs, whereas Graeme Smith got 14,878 runs.&nbsp;

Another record that skipper Kohli will equal if Team India goes on to win the match is of Clive Lloyd, who led West Indies to 36 Test wins. He would go joint-fourth on the list of Test captains with the most wins if he leads India to victory in the fourth Test.

Indian captain Virat Kohli will be looking to end the unusual century drought and surpass former Australia captain Ricky Ponting to create a world record when he steps out to bat in the upcoming fourth Test against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Indian captain Virat Kohli will be looking to end the unusual century drought and surpass former Australia captain Ricky Ponting to create a world record when he steps out to bat in the upcoming fourth Test against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. ALSO READ: Ashwin, Root and Mayers in contention for ICC Player of the Month for February The prolific India batsman has not scored a century since November 2019, where he smashed a ton against Bangladesh in a Day/Night Test at the Motera Stadium. Despite scoring two half-centuries in the series, Kohli has failed to convert them into hundreds yet. If Virat scores a century at Motera, the 32-year-old will overtake former Aussie legend Ricky Ponting in the list of captains with most international hundreds. Both batting stalwarts are tied at the top position in the list with 41 centuries to their name. However, along with this, Virat is also set to equal MS Dhoni's record most matches as captain of the Indian team in Tests when he takes on the visitors on fourth and final Test match. The batting great is also 17 runs away from 12,000 international runs as captain, a feat achieved only by Australia's Ricky Ponting and South Africa's Graeme Smith before him. As a skipper, Australia's Ponting scored 15,440 runs, whereas Graeme Smith got 14,878 runs. Another record that skipper Kohli will equal if Team India goes on to win the match is of Clive Lloyd, who led West Indies to 36 Test wins. He would go joint-fourth on the list of Test captains with the most wins if he leads India to victory in the fourth Test.

From MS Dhoni to Clive Lloyd: Records that Virat Kohli could achieve in the fourth Test

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is looking forward to playing alongside Virat Kohli in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, terming the Indian skipper “the pinnacle of the game” for his sheer dominance across formats. Maxwell was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping INR 14.25 crore despite a&nbsp;below-average outing in IPL 2020 with Kings XI Punjab, now Punjab Kings.&nbsp;

Maxwell said the RCB stint is going to be next level as the Aussie heaped praise on Kohli for his ability to adapt to different formats and deal with the pressure of being the captain of the Indian team and the best player.&nbsp;

"It's (RCB stint) going to be next level," Maxwell told Australian Associated Press (AAP).&nbsp;&nbsp;

IN PICS:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-signed-bats-to-historic-photos-inside-the-hall-of-fame-zone-narendra-modi-stadium-365726" hreflang="en">From signed bats to historic photos: Inside the 'Hall of Fame' zone Narendra Modi Stadium</a>

"He's (Kohli) been the pinnacle of the game for a while as a multi-format player from Tests all the way to T20s. He's been able to adapt his game, dominate for a long period of time and deal with the Indian pressure of being their captain and their best player," Maxwell added.&nbsp;

IPL 2021 is likely to commence in the second week of April and Maxwell is hoping to grasp leadership qualities from Kohli.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"I'm looking forward to watching him go about his work, not just in games but in training, and hopefully tapping into some of the leadership stuff and try and learn off him."&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/4th-test-india-pushing-conditions-to-extremities-ball-will-turn-from-ball-one-ben-foakes-366877" hreflang="en">4th Test: India pushing conditions to extremities, ball will turn from ball one - Ben Foakes</a>

"He's been a solid backer of my stance," Maxwell said.&nbsp;

"In a way, he probably understood a lot of the things that I was going through. A lot of expectation and pressure, which I'm sure he can relate to."&nbsp;

Recently, Kohli opened up his battle with depression during India’s tour of England in 2014 while lauding Maxwell’s decision to take a break from the game.&nbsp;

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is looking forward to playing alongside Virat Kohli in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, terming the Indian skipper “the pinnacle of the game” for his sheer dominance across formats.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is looking forward to playing alongside Virat Kohli in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, terming the Indian skipper “the pinnacle of the game” for his sheer dominance across formats. Maxwell was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping INR 14.25 crore despite a below-average outing in IPL 2020 with Kings XI Punjab, now Punjab Kings. Maxwell said the RCB stint is going to be next level as the Aussie heaped praise on Kohli for his ability to adapt to different formats and deal with the pressure of being the captain of the Indian team and the best player. "It's (RCB stint) going to be next level," Maxwell told Australian Associated Press (AAP). IN PICS: From signed bats to historic photos: Inside the 'Hall of Fame' zone Narendra Modi Stadium "He's (Kohli) been the pinnacle of the game for a while as a multi-format player from Tests all the way to T20s. He's been able to adapt his game, dominate for a long period of time and deal with the Indian pressure of being their captain and their best player," Maxwell added. IPL 2021 is likely to commence in the second week of April and Maxwell is hoping to grasp leadership qualities from Kohli. "I'm looking forward to watching him go about his work, not just in games but in training, and hopefully tapping into some of the leadership stuff and try and learn off him." ALSO READ: 4th Test: India pushing conditions to extremities, ball will turn from ball one - Ben Foakes "He's been a solid backer of my stance," Maxwell said. "In a way, he probably understood a lot of the things that I was going through. A lot of expectation and pressure, which I'm sure he can relate to." Recently, Kohli opened up his battle with depression during India’s tour of England in 2014 while lauding Maxwell’s decision to take a break from the game.

IPL 2021: Glenn Maxwell eager to learn from 'pinnacle of the game' Virat Kohli at RCB

The quality of the pitch during the third Test match between India and England at the Narendra Modi Stadium became a big topic of debate after the game ended within two days. Former skipper Andrew Strauss has now joined the debate and slammed Virat Kohli, who defended the pitch.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-must-know-what-we-should-buy-ravichandran-ashwins-explosive-take-on-pitch-criticism-366671" hreflang="en">'We must know what we should buy': Ravichandran Ashwin's explosive take on pitch criticism</a>

According to Strauss, Kohli was 'looking after the groundsmen'. Former batsman backed Alastair Cook's comments on Indian skipper.&nbsp;

“To say the pitch has no fault to play, I totally agree with Cooky. Kohli's looking after the groundsmen there to a certain degree," Strauss told Channel 4. Strauss was talking about Cook's statement post the game where the ex-England captain had said Kohli came out and defended the wicket as if it was a BCCI thing.

"Virat Kohli's come out and defended the wicket almost as if it's a BCCI thing -- it cannot possibly be the wicket. Yet it was so hard to bat on that. So hard. Take the wicket out and blame the batsmen?" - Cook had said on Channel 4 questioning Kohli.

After India's 10-wicket win over England, Kohli said: "It was a very good pitch to bat on, especially in the first innings. We felt like the ball was coming on nicely with the oddball turning but it was below-par batting from both teams. Our bowlers were much more effective and that's why we got the result."&nbsp;

The quality of the pitch during the third Test match between India and England at the Narendra Modi Stadium became a big topic of debate after the game ended within two days.

The quality of the pitch during the third Test match between India and England at the Narendra Modi Stadium became a big topic of debate after the game ended within two days. Former skipper Andrew Strauss has now joined the debate and slammed Virat Kohli, who defended the pitch. ALSO READ: 'We must know what we should buy': Ravichandran Ashwin's explosive take on pitch criticism According to Strauss, Kohli was 'looking after the groundsmen'. Former batsman backed Alastair Cook's comments on Indian skipper. “To say the pitch has no fault to play, I totally agree with Cooky. Kohli's looking after the groundsmen there to a certain degree," Strauss told Channel 4. Strauss was talking about Cook's statement post the game where the ex-England captain had said Kohli came out and defended the wicket as if it was a BCCI thing. "Virat Kohli's come out and defended the wicket almost as if it's a BCCI thing -- it cannot possibly be the wicket. Yet it was so hard to bat on that. So hard. Take the wicket out and blame the batsmen?" - Cook had said on Channel 4 questioning Kohli. After India's 10-wicket win over England, Kohli said: "It was a very good pitch to bat on, especially in the first innings. We felt like the ball was coming on nicely with the oddball turning but it was below-par batting from both teams. Our bowlers were much more effective and that's why we got the result."

'Looking after the groundsmen': Andrew Strauss slams Indian captain Virat Kohli

Team India off-spinner Axar Patel was adjudged the 'Player of the Match' after producing the best bowling figures in a day-night Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium at Motera. The off-spinner took 11 wickets for 70 runs to hand England a 10-wicket defeat on Thursday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravichandran-ashwin-becomes-second-fastest-to-400-test-wickets-only-fourth-indian-to-achieve-milestone-366225" hreflang="en">Ravichandran Ashwin becomes second-fastest to 400 Test wickets, only fourth Indian to achieve milestone</a>&nbsp;

After the match, the two local boys, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, came together for a light-hearted interview.&nbsp;

While both of them were discussing the feeling of playing in front of the home crowd, Indian skipper Virat Kohli crashed the interview and praised Axar Patel in Gujurati. To which Hardik said: "He is trying to learn a bit of Gujarati these days."

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DO NOT MISS: <a href="https://twitter.com/hardikpandya7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hardikpandya7</a> interviews man of the moment <a href="https://twitter.com/akshar2026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@akshar2026</a>.👍👍 - By <a href="https://twitter.com/RajalArora?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RajalArora</a> 
 
P.S.: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> skipper <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> makes a special appearance 😎<a href="https://twitter.com/Paytm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Paytm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvENG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PinkBallTest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PinkBallTest</a> 
 
Watch the full interview 🎥 👇 <a href="https://t.co/kytMdM4JzN">https://t.co/kytMdM4JzN</a> <a href="https://t.co/QLJWMkCNM5">pic.twitter.com/QLJWMkCNM5</a>
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India on Thursday took a 2-1 lead in the four-test series after defeating England by 10 wickets at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad.

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/team-india-beat-england-in-pink-ball-test-at-worlds-largest-cricket-stadium-366282">Team India beat England in pink-ball Test at world's largest cricket stadium</a>

England looked clueless against Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel as the spin duo picked up a combined 18 wickets in both innings to bundle England out for 112 and 82 respectively.

While Ashwin went on to achieve the monumental feat of 400 Test wickets – becoming only the third Indian to touch the landmark – local boy Axar Patel, playing just his second Test, registered his maiden 10-wicket-haul in Test cricket.

Team India off-spinner Axar Patel was adjudged the 'Player of the Match' after producing the best bowling figures in a day-night Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium at Motera.

Team India off-spinner Axar Patel was adjudged the 'Player of the Match' after producing the best bowling figures in a day-night Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium at Motera. The off-spinner took 11 wickets for 70 runs to hand England a 10-wicket defeat on Thursday. ALSO READ: Ravichandran Ashwin becomes second-fastest to 400 Test wickets, only fourth Indian to achieve milestone After the match, the two local boys, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, came together for a light-hearted interview. While both of them were discussing the feeling of playing in front of the home crowd, Indian skipper Virat Kohli crashed the interview and praised Axar Patel in Gujurati. To which Hardik said: "He is trying to learn a bit of Gujarati these days." DO NOT MISS: @hardikpandya7 interviews man of the moment @akshar2026.👍👍 - By @RajalArora P.S.: #TeamIndia skipper @imVkohli makes a special appearance 😎@Paytm #INDvENG #PinkBallTest Watch the full interview 🎥 👇 https://t.co/kytMdM4JzN pic.twitter.com/QLJWMkCNM5 — BCCI (@BCCI) February 26, 2021 × India on Thursday took a 2-1 lead in the four-test series after defeating England by 10 wickets at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. IN PICS| Team India beat England in pink-ball Test at world's largest cricket stadium England looked clueless against Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel as the spin duo picked up a combined 18 wickets in both innings to bundle England out for 112 and 82 respectively. While Ashwin went on to achieve the monumental feat of 400 Test wickets – becoming only the third Indian to touch the landmark – local boy Axar Patel, playing just his second Test, registered his maiden 10-wicket-haul in Test cricket.

WATCH: Virat Kohli crashes Axar-Hardik's interview; compliments Patel in Gujarati

Winning the toss in the third Test did not provide any advantage to the English side and Root and Co. were bowled out on 112 runs. However, in the middle of England’s innings, an incident took place between Indian skipper Virat Kohli and all-rounder Ben Stokes.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-3rd-test-netizens-troll-ben-stokes-for-catch-appeal-despite-ball-touching-the-ground-365957" hreflang="en">IND vs ENG, 3rd Test: Netizens troll Ben Stokes for catch appeal despite ball touching the ground</a>

Ben Stokes was on crease facing Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin when he stopped the play due to some reason. He felt like some disturbance around and signalled it with his hands. During the same time, the Indian skipper walked up to him and shouted ‘Come on yaar Ben.’

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The moment was caught on camera and soon became a talking point on social media.&nbsp;

Local boy Axar Patel scalped six wickets as India restricted England to 112 runs. Zak Crawley scored most of the runs for England (53 runs).&nbsp;

India will now look to play the twilight phase with cautiousness and get a good total on board. With the series locked at 1-1, India would be itching to take a series lead heading into the final Test, which will be played at the same venue – Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Winning the toss in the third Test did not provide any advantage to the English side and Root and Co. were bowled out on 112 runs. However, in the middle of England’s innings, an incident took place between Indian skipper Virat Kohli and all-rounder Ben Stokes.

Winning the toss in the third Test did not provide any advantage to the English side and Root and Co. were bowled out on 112 runs. However, in the middle of England’s innings, an incident took place between Indian skipper Virat Kohli and all-rounder Ben Stokes. ALSO READ: IND vs ENG, 3rd Test: Netizens troll Ben Stokes for catch appeal despite ball touching the ground Ben Stokes was on crease facing Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin when he stopped the play due to some reason. He felt like some disturbance around and signalled it with his hands. During the same time, the Indian skipper walked up to him and shouted ‘Come on yaar Ben.’ These two though 🇮🇳🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/xqk6CI5JOK — Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) February 24, 2021 × The moment was caught on camera and soon became a talking point on social media. Local boy Axar Patel scalped six wickets as India restricted England to 112 runs. Zak Crawley scored most of the runs for England (53 runs). India will now look to play the twilight phase with cautiousness and get a good total on board. With the series locked at 1-1, India would be itching to take a series lead heading into the final Test, which will be played at the same venue – Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

IND vs ENG- WATCH: Virat Kohli loses cool over Ben Stokes during pink ball Test

Batting stalwart Virat Kohli is known for his on-field aggression during cricket matches, however, former Indian selector Sarandeep Singh revealed that the Indian captain is instead polite and down-to-earth.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-captain-virat-kohli-eyes-couple-of-huge-records-at-third-test-against-england-365593" hreflang="en">Indian captain Virat Kohli eyes couple of huge records at third Test against England</a>

According to Singh, Kohli does not have servants at his house and likes to serve food to guests himself. "At his home, there are no servants. He and his wife will serve food to everyone. What else do you want? Virat always sits with you, chats with you, and goes out for dinner with you. All the other players have so much respect for him. He's very down-to-earth and strong-willed," Sarandeep told Sportskeeda.

"On the field, he needs to be that way because he's the captain. He's the one who'll handle the pressure on the ground and make decisions in the heat of the moment," he concluded.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-kartik-aaryan-tabu-starrer-bhool-bhulaiya-2-gets-a-release-date-365572" hreflang="en">Kartik Aaryan-Tabu starrer 'Bhool Bhulaiya 2' gets a release date</a>

He went on to talk about Kohli's 'humble' nature off the field, and especially during team selection meetings.

"Whenever Virat comes, team meetings used to go on for 1, 1.5 hours. Virat is a good listener. I don't know what people think about him," he said.

"If you see him in the matches, he's always charged up while batting and fielding. So it seems like he's always hot and arrogant, and doesn't listen to anyone. But no, he's as down-to-earth as he seems aggressive on the field. In selection meetings, he was so polite. He always used to listen to everyone and then finally come to a decision.”

Recently, Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma welcomed their baby girl who they named Vamika.

Batting stalwart Virat Kohli is known for his on-field aggression during cricket matches, however, former Indian selector Sarandeep Singh revealed that the Indian captain is instead polite and down-to-earth.

Batting stalwart Virat Kohli is known for his on-field aggression during cricket matches, however, former Indian selector Sarandeep Singh revealed that the Indian captain is instead polite and down-to-earth. ALSO READ: Indian captain Virat Kohli eyes couple of huge records at third Test against England According to Singh, Kohli does not have servants at his house and likes to serve food to guests himself. "At his home, there are no servants. He and his wife will serve food to everyone. What else do you want? Virat always sits with you, chats with you, and goes out for dinner with you. All the other players have so much respect for him. He's very down-to-earth and strong-willed," Sarandeep told Sportskeeda. "On the field, he needs to be that way because he's the captain. He's the one who'll handle the pressure on the ground and make decisions in the heat of the moment," he concluded. ALSO READ: Kartik Aaryan-Tabu starrer 'Bhool Bhulaiya 2' gets a release date He went on to talk about Kohli's 'humble' nature off the field, and especially during team selection meetings. "Whenever Virat comes, team meetings used to go on for 1, 1.5 hours. Virat is a good listener. I don't know what people think about him," he said. "If you see him in the matches, he's always charged up while batting and fielding. So it seems like he's always hot and arrogant, and doesn't listen to anyone. But no, he's as down-to-earth as he seems aggressive on the field. In selection meetings, he was so polite. He always used to listen to everyone and then finally come to a decision.” Recently, Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma welcomed their baby girl who they named Vamika.

'At his home, there are no servants': Former Indian selector reveals Virat and Anushka's 'humble' lifestyle

Indian captain Virat Kohli will be looking to end the unusual century drought and surpass former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and creating a world record when he steps out to bat in the upcoming third Test against England at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;

IN PICS:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/olympic-size-swimming-pool-dressing-room-with-gyms-11-centre-pitches-complete-guide-to-worlds-largest-cricket-stadium-in-ahmedabad-365397" hreflang="en">Olympic size swimming pool, dressing room with gyms, 11 centre pitches: Complete guide to world's largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad</a>

The prolific India batsman has not scored a century since November 2019, where he smashed a ton against Bangladesh in a Day/Night Test at the Motera Stadium. Despite scoring two half-centuries in the series, Kohli has failed to convert them into hundreds yet.&nbsp;

If Virat scores a century at Motera, the 32-year-old will overtake former Aussie legend Ricky Ponting in the list of captains with most international hundreds. Both batting stalwarts are tied at the top position in the list with 41 centuries to their name.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-james-anderson-gives-his-verdict-on-motera-stadiums-pitch-ahead-of-pink-ball-test-365455" hreflang="en">IND vs ENG: James Anderson gives his verdict on Motera Stadium's pitch ahead of pink-ball Test</a>

Kohli could surpass another major record if his team manages to win the Test match at Motera as he is currently tied with MS Dhoni in the record of India captain with most Test wins at home. He equalled Captain Cool's achievement after the massive win at Chepauk.&nbsp;

The win in the third Test against England at the Motera Stadium will be Kohli's 22nd Test win as captain at home, and he would surpass Dhoni to claim the top spot in the list.

Other Indian captains in the list following the duo are Mohammad Azharuddin (13 wins), Sourav Ganguly (10 wins), and Sunil Gavaskar (7 wins).

The four-match series is levelled at 1-1 with two matches remaining. The Day/Night Test match will begin on February 24 at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;

Indian captain Virat Kohli will be looking to end the unusual century drought and surpass former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and creating a world record when he steps out to bat in the upcoming third Test against England at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Indian captain Virat Kohli will be looking to end the unusual century drought and surpass former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and creating a world record when he steps out to bat in the upcoming third Test against England at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. IN PICS: Olympic size swimming pool, dressing room with gyms, 11 centre pitches: Complete guide to world's largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad The prolific India batsman has not scored a century since November 2019, where he smashed a ton against Bangladesh in a Day/Night Test at the Motera Stadium. Despite scoring two half-centuries in the series, Kohli has failed to convert them into hundreds yet. If Virat scores a century at Motera, the 32-year-old will overtake former Aussie legend Ricky Ponting in the list of captains with most international hundreds. Both batting stalwarts are tied at the top position in the list with 41 centuries to their name. ALSO READ: IND vs ENG: James Anderson gives his verdict on Motera Stadium's pitch ahead of pink-ball Test Kohli could surpass another major record if his team manages to win the Test match at Motera as he is currently tied with MS Dhoni in the record of India captain with most Test wins at home. He equalled Captain Cool's achievement after the massive win at Chepauk. The win in the third Test against England at the Motera Stadium will be Kohli's 22nd Test win as captain at home, and he would surpass Dhoni to claim the top spot in the list. Other Indian captains in the list following the duo are Mohammad Azharuddin (13 wins), Sourav Ganguly (10 wins), and Sunil Gavaskar (7 wins). The four-match series is levelled at 1-1 with two matches remaining. The Day/Night Test match will begin on February 24 at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Indian captain Virat Kohli eyes couple of huge records at third Test against England

From Virat Kohli to Jasprit Bumrah: Team India breaks sweat ahead of Motera Test

There were some new faces in the Indian squad&nbsp;for the five-match T20I series against England, starting from March 12 in Ahmedabad. Suryakumar Yadav, who has been piling runs in the domestic circuit and IPL, was one of&nbsp;the names who got his maiden Team India call-up for the series. After earning his Team India call-up, Suryakumar Yadav has said that he can’t wait to&nbsp;learn from Indian skipper Virat Kohli and other players from the team.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Suryakumar has been scoring runs for fun in the domestic arena and had amassed 480 runs for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020. While fans were left disappointed to not see his name for&nbsp;the Australian tour, the Indian selectors rewarded him&nbsp;with a call-up for the England series.&nbsp;

"I have already started thinking about how I am going to spend time with all the greats over there,” Suryakumar&nbsp;told Sports Today.&nbsp;

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"I will get to learn so much from our captain Virat Kohli and then there is Rohit Sharma, everyone, A-Z all the players. I am really looking forward to spend quality time, grasp as much as I can," Suryakumar&nbsp;added.&nbsp;

SKY is one of the three maiden call-up earners in the Indian squad along with Mumbai Indians team-mate and Haryana all-rounder Rahul&nbsp;Tewatia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"There were a few instances during the IPL where I used to dream about winning games for India and I think the opportunity for me has come at the right time. It's on me how I take it and how I make full use of it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/focus-on-cricket-not-on-pitch-rohit-sharmas-message-to-experts-365259" hreflang="en">Focus on cricket, not on pitch: Rohit Sharma's message to experts</a>

"Not thinking about too much, I would say, I would go one step at a time, take one game at a time. I have a few&nbsp;plan. Obviously, I would love to go ahead and explore in this series," Surya said.&nbsp;

All five matches of the T20I series against England in Ahmedabad will be hosted by world’s largest stadium – Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

There were some new faces in the Indian squad for the five-match T20I series against England, starting from March 12 in Ahmedabad. Suryakumar Yadav, who has been piling runs in the domestic circuit and IPL, was one of the names who got his maiden Team India call-up for the series.

There were some new faces in the Indian squad for the five-match T20I series against England, starting from March 12 in Ahmedabad. Suryakumar Yadav, who has been piling runs in the domestic circuit and IPL, was one of the names who got his maiden Team India call-up for the series. After earning his Team India call-up, Suryakumar Yadav has said that he can’t wait to learn from Indian skipper Virat Kohli and other players from the team. Suryakumar has been scoring runs for fun in the domestic arena and had amassed 480 runs for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020. While fans were left disappointed to not see his name for the Australian tour, the Indian selectors rewarded him with a call-up for the England series. "I have already started thinking about how I am going to spend time with all the greats over there,” Suryakumar told Sports Today. ALSO READ: Graeme Swann names key player for England in the pink-ball Test "I will get to learn so much from our captain Virat Kohli and then there is Rohit Sharma, everyone, A-Z all the players. I am really looking forward to spend quality time, grasp as much as I can," Suryakumar added. SKY is one of the three maiden call-up earners in the Indian squad along with Mumbai Indians team-mate and Haryana all-rounder Rahul Tewatia. "There were a few instances during the IPL where I used to dream about winning games for India and I think the opportunity for me has come at the right time. It's on me how I take it and how I make full use of it. ALSO READ: Focus on cricket, not on pitch: Rohit Sharma's message to experts "Not thinking about too much, I would say, I would go one step at a time, take one game at a time. I have a few plan. Obviously, I would love to go ahead and explore in this series," Surya said. All five matches of the T20I series against England in Ahmedabad will be hosted by world’s largest stadium – Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.

'Will get to learn from Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma': Suryakumar Yadav on maiden India call-up

Former Indian cricketer and a legend of the game,&nbsp;Sachin&nbsp;Tendulkar on Saturday reacted to Virat Kohli opening up about his battle with depression, where the Indian captain also revealed how a conversation with the Master Blaster&nbsp;"opened up" his mindset.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tendulkar took to social media platform Twitter as he wrote he is proud of his success and decision to share personal experiences. The former Indian cricketer added that these days youngsters are&nbsp;relentlessly&nbsp;judged on social media while adding we need to listen to them and help them flourish.&nbsp;

".@imVkohli, proud of your success &amp; decision to share such personal experiences.&nbsp;These days youngsters are constantly judged on social media. Thousands speak about them but not to them.&nbsp;We need to be able to listen to them and help them flourish,” Tendulkar tweeted.&nbsp;

<img alt="Sachin Tendulkar tweet on Virat Kohli" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a4c7c830-eb3d-4d46-bd5e-48f0c139740d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Sachin.JPG" />

Kohli, on Mark Nicholas’ podcast 'Not Just Cricket' said that he felt depressed during India's tour of England in 2014 – when he went through the worst form of his life – but said that a chat with Tendulkar helped him&nbsp;during that phase.&nbsp;

"I did have a chat with him about the mental side of things as well and the thing that he told me was, in cricket what he experienced was if you are going through a strong negative feeling and if that is coming into your system regularly, it is best to let it pass. If you start fighting that feeling, it grows stronger. So, that is the advice I took on board and my mindset really opened up from then on," Kohli told renowned broadcaster Mark Nicholas on the latter’s podcast ‘Not Just Cricket’.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/felt-like-the-loneliest-guy-virat-kohli-opens-up-on-battle-with-depression-364757" hreflang="en">'Felt like the loneliest guy': Virat Kohli opens up on battle with depression</a>

The Indian skipper further revealed he failed to understand how he would get over the phase while adding he felt like he was the "loneliest guy" in the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"I did (feel depressed). It's not a great feeling when wake up knowing that you won't be able to score any runs and I think all batsmen have felt that at some stage or the other that you are not in control of anything at all. And you just don't understand how to get over it. I think when you look back at a very difficult phase, you&nbsp;realise&nbsp;that you had to go through that phase fully to be able to understand what is wrong and rectify and move forward and open yourself up for change. That was a phase where I literally couldn't do anything to overturn what I was going through. I felt like I was the loneliest guy in the world," said Kohli, recalling the England tour back in 2014.&nbsp;

Kohli had averaged a mere 13.50 in India's tour of England in 2014 where he failed to even register a half-century in 10 innings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He also said: "For me, personally, that was a revelation that you could feel that lonely even though you a part of a big group. I won't say I didn't have people that I could speak to but not having a professional to speak to who could understand what I am going through completely, I think is a huge factor. I think I would like to see it change. Someone that you can go to at any stage, have a conversation around, and say 'Listen this is what I am feeling, I am finding it hard to even go to sleep, I feel like I don't want to wake up in the morning. I have no confidence in myself, what do I do?'"&nbsp;

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Kohli will be seen in action against England when both teams take the field for the third Test in Ahmedabad from February 24.&nbsp;

Former Indian cricketer and a legend of the game, Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday reacted to Virat Kohli opening up about his battle with depression, where the Indian captain also revealed how a conversation with the Master Blaster "opened up" his mindset.

Former Indian cricketer and a legend of the game, Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday reacted to Virat Kohli opening up about his battle with depression, where the Indian captain also revealed how a conversation with the Master Blaster "opened up" his mindset. Tendulkar took to social media platform Twitter as he wrote he is proud of his success and decision to share personal experiences. The former Indian cricketer added that these days youngsters are relentlessly judged on social media while adding we need to listen to them and help them flourish. ".@imVkohli, proud of your success & decision to share such personal experiences. These days youngsters are constantly judged on social media. Thousands speak about them but not to them. We need to be able to listen to them and help them flourish,” Tendulkar tweeted. Kohli, on Mark Nicholas’ podcast 'Not Just Cricket' said that he felt depressed during India's tour of England in 2014 – when he went through the worst form of his life – but said that a chat with Tendulkar helped him during that phase. "I did have a chat with him about the mental side of things as well and the thing that he told me was, in cricket what he experienced was if you are going through a strong negative feeling and if that is coming into your system regularly, it is best to let it pass. If you start fighting that feeling, it grows stronger. So, that is the advice I took on board and my mindset really opened up from then on," Kohli told renowned broadcaster Mark Nicholas on the latter’s podcast ‘Not Just Cricket’. ALSO READ: 'Felt like the loneliest guy': Virat Kohli opens up on battle with depression The Indian skipper further revealed he failed to understand how he would get over the phase while adding he felt like he was the "loneliest guy" in the world. "I did (feel depressed). It's not a great feeling when wake up knowing that you won't be able to score any runs and I think all batsmen have felt that at some stage or the other that you are not in control of anything at all. And you just don't understand how to get over it. I think when you look back at a very difficult phase, you realise that you had to go through that phase fully to be able to understand what is wrong and rectify and move forward and open yourself up for change. That was a phase where I literally couldn't do anything to overturn what I was going through. I felt like I was the loneliest guy in the world," said Kohli, recalling the England tour back in 2014. Kohli had averaged a mere 13.50 in India's tour of England in 2014 where he failed to even register a half-century in 10 innings. He also said: "For me, personally, that was a revelation that you could feel that lonely even though you a part of a big group. I won't say I didn't have people that I could speak to but not having a professional to speak to who could understand what I am going through completely, I think is a huge factor. I think I would like to see it change. Someone that you can go to at any stage, have a conversation around, and say 'Listen this is what I am feeling, I am finding it hard to even go to sleep, I feel like I don't want to wake up in the morning. I have no confidence in myself, what do I do?'" ALSO READ: Whopping INR 6144 crore in 14 years of IPL: Auction, salary money spent across cricketers globally Kohli will be seen in action against England when both teams take the field for the third Test in Ahmedabad from February 24.

Proud of your success: Sachin Tendulkar reacts after Virat Kohli opens up about battle with depression

Virat Kohli, who is regarded as one of the best batsmen to have ever played cricket, has opened up about his battle with depression during India's tour of England, where the swashbuckling batsman went through the worst form of his life.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Indian skipper has revealed how he felt he was the "loneliest&nbsp;guy in the world" as he&nbsp;narrated&nbsp;his struggle during India's tour of England in 2014, where he averaged a mere 13.50 in 10 innings – his lowest in a series with more than three&nbsp;Tests.&nbsp;&nbsp;

When asked&nbsp;by former England first-class cricketer and a renowned commentator Nicholas on his 'Not Just Cricket' podcast, whether he had suffered from depression during India's tour of England in 2014, Kohli answered "Yes, I did".&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kohli had returned with scores of&nbsp;1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0,7, 6 and 20 in five Tests, averaging 13.50 in his 10 innings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/zaheer-khan-mahela-jayawardene-open-up-on-mumbai-indians-signing-arjun-tendulkar-364740" hreflang="en">Zaheer Khan, Mahela Jayawardene open up on Mumbai Indians signing Arjun Tendulkar</a>

"...it's not a great feeling to wake up knowing that you won't be able to score runs and I think all batsmen have felt that at some stage that you are not in control of anything at all," he recalled.&nbsp;

However, showing his class, Kohli roared back to form in India's next immediate assignment – a tour of Australia – where he hammered 692 runs in the Test series.&nbsp;

"You just don't understand how to get over it. That was a phase when I literally couldn't do anything to overturn things...I felt like I was the loneliest guy in the world," he said of the England tour.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Personally, for me, that was a revelation that you could feel that lonely even though you a part of a big group. I won't say I didn't have people who I could speak to but not having a professional to speak to who could understand what I am going through completely, I think is a huge factor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-auction-2021-complete-players-list-of-all-eight-squads-364617" hreflang="en">IPL Auction 2021: Complete players list of all eight squads</a>

"I think I would like to see it change,” Kohli responded as he said that mental health issues should be an important topic in everyone's life.&nbsp;

"Someone whom you can go to at any stage, have a conversation around and say 'Listen this is what I am feeling, I am finding it hard to even go to sleep, I feel like I don't want to wake up in the morning. I have no confidence in myself, what do I do?'&nbsp;

"Lot of people suffer with that feeling for longer periods of time, it carries on for months, it carries on for a whole cricket season, people are not able to get out of it," Kohli said.&nbsp;

"I strongly feel the need for professional help there to be very honest," he added.&nbsp;

(With PTI inputs)&nbsp;

Virat Kohli, who is regarded as one of the best batsmen to have ever played cricket, has opened up about his battle with depression during India's tour of England, where the swashbuckling batsman went through the worst form of his life.

Virat Kohli, who is regarded as one of the best batsmen to have ever played cricket, has opened up about his battle with depression during India's tour of England, where the swashbuckling batsman went through the worst form of his life. The Indian skipper has revealed how he felt he was the "loneliest guy in the world" as he narrated his struggle during India's tour of England in 2014, where he averaged a mere 13.50 in 10 innings – his lowest in a series with more than three Tests. When asked by former England first-class cricketer and a renowned commentator Nicholas on his 'Not Just Cricket' podcast, whether he had suffered from depression during India's tour of England in 2014, Kohli answered "Yes, I did". Kohli had returned with scores of 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0,7, 6 and 20 in five Tests, averaging 13.50 in his 10 innings. ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan, Mahela Jayawardene open up on Mumbai Indians signing Arjun Tendulkar "...it's not a great feeling to wake up knowing that you won't be able to score runs and I think all batsmen have felt that at some stage that you are not in control of anything at all," he recalled. However, showing his class, Kohli roared back to form in India's next immediate assignment – a tour of Australia – where he hammered 692 runs in the Test series. "You just don't understand how to get over it. That was a phase when I literally couldn't do anything to overturn things...I felt like I was the loneliest guy in the world," he said of the England tour. "Personally, for me, that was a revelation that you could feel that lonely even though you a part of a big group. I won't say I didn't have people who I could speak to but not having a professional to speak to who could understand what I am going through completely, I think is a huge factor. ALSO READ: IPL Auction 2021: Complete players list of all eight squads "I think I would like to see it change,” Kohli responded as he said that mental health issues should be an important topic in everyone's life. "Someone whom you can go to at any stage, have a conversation around and say 'Listen this is what I am feeling, I am finding it hard to even go to sleep, I feel like I don't want to wake up in the morning. I have no confidence in myself, what do I do?' "Lot of people suffer with that feeling for longer periods of time, it carries on for months, it carries on for a whole cricket season, people are not able to get out of it," Kohli said. "I strongly feel the need for professional help there to be very honest," he added. (With PTI inputs)

'Felt like the loneliest guy': Virat Kohli opens up on battle with depression

The Indian cricket team on Tuesday recorded their biggest-ever Test win against England in terms of runs as the Virat Kohli-led outfit defeated the visitors by 317 runs in the second match of the four-Test series at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The 317-run margin is also India's fifth-highest ever win by runs as the hosts&nbsp;topped&nbsp;their previous biggest win against England (279-run win) at the&nbsp;Headingley&nbsp;in 1986.&nbsp;Overall, against all the opponents, India's 337-run win against South Africa in Delhi in the 2015-16 series remains the biggest followed by a 321-run win over New Zealand in Indore in 2016-17.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Third in the list remains India's massive 320-run win against Australia in Mohali in the 2009 series followed by a 318-run win over the West Indies in North Sound, Antigua in 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indians-never-crib-about-overseas-conditions-r-ashwin-shuts-down-chennai-pitch-critics-364029" hreflang="en">Indians never crib about overseas conditions: R Ashwin shuts down Chennai pitch critics</a>

Notably, India's five of India's top six highest margins of wins (in terms of runs) have come under the leadership of Virat Kohli.&nbsp;

<h2 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{48739035-a540-4aef-bf1d-0534550b9036}{168}" paraid="1341085606" >Biggest Test wins for India (by runs)&nbsp;</h2>

337 vs SA Delhi 2015/16&nbsp; 
321 vs NZ Indore 2016/17&nbsp; 
320 vs Aus Mohali 2008/09&nbsp; 
318 vs WI North Sound 2019&nbsp; 
317 vs Eng Chennai 2020/21&nbsp; 
304 vs SL Galle 2017&nbsp;

&nbsp;England lost the second Test&nbsp;in Chennai&nbsp;by 317 runs as India drew level in the four-match series.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"It was a bit strange in the first game to be playing at home with empty stands. We were pretty flat on the first two days over there to be pretty honest, myself included, didn't pick up energy on the field. But from the second innings onwards in the first game, we picked up and were on the money in terms of our body language,” skipper Virat Kohli told host broadcasters in the post-match presentation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-world-test-championship-india-jump-to-2nd-place-after-chennai-test-win-check-updated-points-table-364014" hreflang="en">ICC World Test Championship: India jump to 2nd place after Chennai Test win - Check updated points table</a>

"The crowds make a big&nbsp;difference,&nbsp;this game was an example of the grit and determination this side shows and the crowd is a big part of that. Chennai crowd are very intelligent, they understand their cricket really well. In a&nbsp;15-20 minute&nbsp;period where the bowler needs the support of the crowd, it is my responsibility to involve everyone and bring in the crowd. If I am running in to bowl in this heat, I need people to motivate me. It is a perfect game for us,” he added.&nbsp;

The Indian cricket team on Tuesday recorded their biggest-ever Test win against England in terms of runs as the Virat Kohli-led outfit defeated the visitors by 317 runs in the second match of the four-Test series at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

The Indian cricket team on Tuesday recorded their biggest-ever Test win against England in terms of runs as the Virat Kohli-led outfit defeated the visitors by 317 runs in the second match of the four-Test series at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The 317-run margin is also India's fifth-highest ever win by runs as the hosts topped their previous biggest win against England (279-run win) at the Headingley in 1986. Overall, against all the opponents, India's 337-run win against South Africa in Delhi in the 2015-16 series remains the biggest followed by a 321-run win over New Zealand in Indore in 2016-17. Third in the list remains India's massive 320-run win against Australia in Mohali in the 2009 series followed by a 318-run win over the West Indies in North Sound, Antigua in 2019. ALSO READ: Indians never crib about overseas conditions: R Ashwin shuts down Chennai pitch critics Notably, India's five of India's top six highest margins of wins (in terms of runs) have come under the leadership of Virat Kohli. Biggest Test wins for India (by runs) 337 vs SA Delhi 2015/16 321 vs NZ Indore 2016/17 320 vs Aus Mohali 2008/09 318 vs WI North Sound 2019 317 vs Eng Chennai 2020/21 304 vs SL Galle 2017 England lost the second Test in Chennai by 317 runs as India drew level in the four-match series. "It was a bit strange in the first game to be playing at home with empty stands. We were pretty flat on the first two days over there to be pretty honest, myself included, didn't pick up energy on the field. But from the second innings onwards in the first game, we picked up and were on the money in terms of our body language,” skipper Virat Kohli told host broadcasters in the post-match presentation. ALSO READ: ICC World Test Championship: India jump to 2nd place after Chennai Test win - Check updated points table "The crowds make a big difference, this game was an example of the grit and determination this side shows and the crowd is a big part of that. Chennai crowd are very intelligent, they understand their cricket really well. In a 15-20 minute period where the bowler needs the support of the crowd, it is my responsibility to involve everyone and bring in the crowd. If I am running in to bowl in this heat, I need people to motivate me. It is a perfect game for us,” he added.

India's 2nd Test win in Chennai is their biggest win against England by runs

Indian captain&nbsp;Virat Kohli on Monday lost his cool after the Decision Review System (DRS) ruled out a ‘plumb' LBW decision against England&nbsp;skipper&nbsp;Joe Root just before the end of Day 3's play in the ongoing&nbsp;second&nbsp;Test between India and England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Left-arm spinner&nbsp;Axar&nbsp;Patel had the ball for the last over of Day 3&nbsp;and fired a straighter one to Root, who was caught off-guard. While the Indian team appealed for caught-behind, umpire Nitin Patel gave it a not-out. The Indian team led by Kohli took the DRS but there&nbsp;was no bat involved as suggested by slow-motion replays.

However, Root was stuck in his back pad and certainly looked plumb. The ball tracker showed that the ball was hitting the stumps but the impact was just outside the off-stump and hence, the third umpire had to stick to the on-field call of not-out.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
So it's not out for Root but out for Kohli? <a href="https://t.co/MTpCcHaZGF">pic.twitter.com/MTpCcHaZGF</a>
— 𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐡𝐢𝐥 🇮🇳 (@nrcexe) <a href="https://twitter.com/nrcexe/status/1361277278139813889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh tweeted about the incident as he wrote: "That’s the plumpest LBW I’ve ever seen given not out by DRS. Problem is the DRS went with the umpires call for not out for a caught behind not LBW."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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That’s the plumpest LBW I’ve ever seen given not out by DRS. Problem is the DRS went with the umpires call for not out for a caught behind not LBW.
— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) <a href="https://twitter.com/juniorwaugh349/status/1361277931364884481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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TRENDING:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-mohammed-sirajs-celebration-wins-hearts-as-r-ashwin-completes-his-5th-test-century-363786" hreflang="en">Watch: Mohammed Siraj's celebration wins hearts as R Ashwin completes his 5th Test century</a>

It was a weird decision as India had never appealed for LBW and despite that, the decision by the third umpire was to stick to the on-field call, which was based on a caught-behind appeal. Maybe that irked Virat Kohli as he had a brief conversation with umpire Menon and looked unhappy.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The incident only triggers more debate as to whether umpire's call should be scrapped.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meanwhile, India ended Day 3 of the second Test on the driver's seat and are all set to win the second Test when they take the field on Tuesday. A win by India will level the series 1-1.&nbsp;

Indian captain Virat Kohli on Monday lost his cool after the Decision Review System (DRS) ruled out a ‘plumb' LBW decision against England skipper Joe Root just before the end of Day 3's play in the ongoing second Test between India and England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Indian captain Virat Kohli on Monday lost his cool after the Decision Review System (DRS) ruled out a ‘plumb' LBW decision against England skipper Joe Root just before the end of Day 3's play in the ongoing second Test between India and England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel had the ball for the last over of Day 3 and fired a straighter one to Root, who was caught off-guard. While the Indian team appealed for caught-behind, umpire Nitin Patel gave it a not-out. The Indian team led by Kohli took the DRS but there was no bat involved as suggested by slow-motion replays. However, Root was stuck in his back pad and certainly looked plumb. The ball tracker showed that the ball was hitting the stumps but the impact was just outside the off-stump and hence, the third umpire had to stick to the on-field call of not-out. ALSO READ: Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest - stats prove it! So it's not out for Root but out for Kohli? pic.twitter.com/MTpCcHaZGF — 𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐡𝐢𝐥 🇮🇳 (@nrcexe) February 15, 2021 × Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh tweeted about the incident as he wrote: "That’s the plumpest LBW I’ve ever seen given not out by DRS. Problem is the DRS went with the umpires call for not out for a caught behind not LBW." That’s the plumpest LBW I’ve ever seen given not out by DRS. Problem is the DRS went with the umpires call for not out for a caught behind not LBW. — Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) February 15, 2021 × TRENDING: Watch: Mohammed Siraj's celebration wins hearts as R Ashwin completes his 5th Test century It was a weird decision as India had never appealed for LBW and despite that, the decision by the third umpire was to stick to the on-field call, which was based on a caught-behind appeal. Maybe that irked Virat Kohli as he had a brief conversation with umpire Menon and looked unhappy. The incident only triggers more debate as to whether umpire's call should be scrapped. Meanwhile, India ended Day 3 of the second Test on the driver's seat and are all set to win the second Test when they take the field on Tuesday. A win by India will level the series 1-1.

Watch: Virat Kohli loses cool after 'umpire's call' hands Joe Root a lifeline

Ravichandran Ashwin stole the limelight on an eventful Day 3 of the ongoing second Test between India and England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai as the hosts ended the day on the verge of winning the Test match and&nbsp;equalising&nbsp;the series 1-1.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India, riding on a sensational century by Ashwin and a sublime half-century by Virat Kohli, posted a total of 482 runs. However, England ended up losing&nbsp;three wickets in the final hour of Day 3 with spinners&nbsp;Ashwin and&nbsp;Axar&nbsp;Patel dominating the proceedings with the ball. India could have got the wicket of Dan Lawrence as well but a shoddy 'umpire's call' helped the Englishman survive the final over of the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India, in the second innings, lost openers Rohit Sharma (26) and Shubman Gill (14) early with Cheteshwar Pujara (7) departing after a freak run-out.&nbsp;&nbsp;

TRENDING:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-mohammed-sirajs-celebration-wins-hearts-as-r-ashwin-completes-his-5th-test-century-363786" hreflang="en">Watch: Mohammed Siraj's celebration wins hearts as R Ashwin completes his 5th Test century</a>

Rishabh Pant (8), Ajinkya Rahane (10) and&nbsp;Axar&nbsp;Patel (7) were also sent back to the hut quickly. However, it was Virat Kohli and Ashwin's resilience and sound technique that helped the duo post some crucial runs on board as they stitched a vital partnership to help India take the game away from England.&nbsp;

While England are still in the game with Joe Root and Dan Lawrence unbeaten at the end of Day 3, one can expect the match to wrap up quickly on Day 4 given the kind of form Ashwin and&nbsp;Axar&nbsp;are in.&nbsp;&nbsp;

England, chasing 482, lost Dom Sibley (3) early. The&nbsp;visitors' decision to send&nbsp;nightwatchman&nbsp;Jack Leach backfired as he was sent packing by&nbsp;Axar&nbsp;for a duck.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravichandran-ashwin-is-one-of-the-greatest-stats-prove-it-363775" hreflang="en">Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest - stats prove it!</a>

Rory Burns once again was dismissed by Ashwin as the southpaw continued his struggle with the willow.&nbsp;

India would be hoping to wrap the proceedings soon on Day 4 and level the series 1-1 after losing the first Test by a mammoth 227-run margin.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Ravichandran Ashwin stole the limelight on an eventful Day 3 of the ongoing second Test between India and England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai as the hosts ended the day on the verge of winning the Test match and equalising the series 1-1.

Ravichandran Ashwin stole the limelight on an eventful Day 3 of the ongoing second Test between India and England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai as the hosts ended the day on the verge of winning the Test match and equalising the series 1-1. India, riding on a sensational century by Ashwin and a sublime half-century by Virat Kohli, posted a total of 482 runs. However, England ended up losing three wickets in the final hour of Day 3 with spinners Ashwin and Axar Patel dominating the proceedings with the ball. India could have got the wicket of Dan Lawrence as well but a shoddy 'umpire's call' helped the Englishman survive the final over of the day. India, in the second innings, lost openers Rohit Sharma (26) and Shubman Gill (14) early with Cheteshwar Pujara (7) departing after a freak run-out. TRENDING: Watch: Mohammed Siraj's celebration wins hearts as R Ashwin completes his 5th Test century Rishabh Pant (8), Ajinkya Rahane (10) and Axar Patel (7) were also sent back to the hut quickly. However, it was Virat Kohli and Ashwin's resilience and sound technique that helped the duo post some crucial runs on board as they stitched a vital partnership to help India take the game away from England. While England are still in the game with Joe Root and Dan Lawrence unbeaten at the end of Day 3, one can expect the match to wrap up quickly on Day 4 given the kind of form Ashwin and Axar are in. England, chasing 482, lost Dom Sibley (3) early. The visitors' decision to send nightwatchman Jack Leach backfired as he was sent packing by Axar for a duck. ALSO READ: Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest - stats prove it! Rory Burns once again was dismissed by Ashwin as the southpaw continued his struggle with the willow. India would be hoping to wrap the proceedings soon on Day 4 and level the series 1-1 after losing the first Test by a mammoth 227-run margin.

IND vs ENG 2nd Test: R Ashwin steals show on Day 3 as India stand on verge of leveling series

Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday produced batting masterclass on a 'beach' Chennai pitch as the duo scored&nbsp;a half-century each to extend India's lead in the second innings to over 350 runs.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While England batsmen were outplayed by the Indian bowlers on Day 2, Ashwin and Kohli showed the visitors how to bat on a 'rank turner' as the duo tackled the English spin duo of Jack Leach and Moeen Ali with ease.&nbsp;&nbsp;

With former England cricketers such as Michael Vaughan and Matt Prior&nbsp;criticising&nbsp;the Chennai pitch on Day 2 of the match after England were bowled out for a paltry 134,&nbsp;the Indian batters, especially Kohli and Ashwin produced batting of the highest caliber to register their respective half-century.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-ball-starts-to-turn-sunil-gavaskar-hammers-critics-for-slamming-chennai-pitch-in-2nd-test-363703" hreflang="en">'When ball starts to turn...': Sunil Gavaskar hammers critics for slamming Chennai pitch in 2nd Test</a>

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He may not get a 100 but this <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> innings has been an masterclass on this pitch ... its already 100 balls of batting that all coaches should show players on how to play on a Beach ... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsENG</a>
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1361208244258103302?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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It’s entertaining cricket as things are happening all the time but let’s be honest this Pitch is a shocker .. Not making any excuses as India have been better but this isn’t a Test Match 5 day prepared Pitch ... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvENG</a>
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1360843448639778818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Twitterati celebrated half-centuries of Kohli and Ashwin as India look on verge of winning the second Test to&nbsp;equalise&nbsp;the series 1-1.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-pm-imran-khan-gives-thumbs-up-to-top-team-india-363684" hreflang="en">Pakistan PM Imran Khan gives thumbs up to 'top team' India</a>

<h2 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{a4c37608-d81b-4dc3-a8c5-da75ccfa279b}{26}" paraid="1977482560" >Here's how Twitterati reacted to the half-century by Kohli and Ashwin</h2>

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He’s the greatest batter in the game of cricket playing right now - <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a>! 
 
England didn’t pick their best team so can’t complain. 
 
Missing Jimmy, BIG TIME!
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1361210956991369216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Sometimes in Test Cricket a 50 you make in challenging conditions and situation will be more satisfying than a 200 you make on a flat pitch. I am sure this is one such innings for <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> A master class on how to play on a turning track. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsENG</a> <a href="https://t.co/8NYs7fTMAk">pic.twitter.com/8NYs7fTMAk</a>
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) <a href="https://twitter.com/VVSLaxman281/status/1361213759889416196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Fifty in second innings in first Test. 
Fifty in second innings in second Test. 
 
Both was tough pitch to bat on and best of the best stands tall for India - Virat Kohli.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) <a href="https://twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/1361210930525179907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Kohli is majestic. This is a masterclass in how to bat on a ploughed field. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvENG</a>
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1361207061128839168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Appreciation tweet for Ash Anna
— A (@_shortarmjab_) <a href="https://twitter.com/_shortarmjab_/status/1361211855209852931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Ash Anna giving English team their own medicine ' sweep and reverse sweep ' . <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsENG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pitch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pitch</a> <a href="https://t.co/13XNXRw50B">pic.twitter.com/13XNXRw50B</a>
— Kushal Gowda (@Kushalg77328189) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kushalg77328189/status/1361197641594408962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Ash anna showing england batsman how to bat on turners rather than crying <a href="https://t.co/Od7in2K9xw">pic.twitter.com/Od7in2K9xw</a>
— Siddarth (@Adelaide__141) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adelaide__141/status/1361216705171656706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Not only did Kohli and Ashwin shut critics of the Chennai pitch with their&nbsp;quality batting display, former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar also lashed out at the critics for&nbsp;unnecessary&nbsp;slamming the quality of the strip in Chennai.&nbsp;

"We saw how Rohit Sharma getting 150, and yesterday he was getting close to ball and batting. This criticism (on pitch) is pretty warranted," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Some of them are saying that - but you have a seaming pitch in England. Australia&nbsp;get&nbsp;dismissed for 46 - the ball keeps seeming all throughout. No one talks about that. It's always about Indian pitches, and when the ball starts to turn, people pose a problem," he added.&nbsp;

With Kohli and Ashwin still batting, the Indian duo would be looking to convert their 50+ scores to a century to make this Test even more special, moreover in front of the fans.&nbsp;

Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday produced batting masterclass on a 'beach' Chennai pitch as the duo scored a half-century each to extend India's lead in the second innings to over 350 runs.

Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday produced batting masterclass on a 'beach' Chennai pitch as the duo scored a half-century each to extend India's lead in the second innings to over 350 runs. While England batsmen were outplayed by the Indian bowlers on Day 2, Ashwin and Kohli showed the visitors how to bat on a 'rank turner' as the duo tackled the English spin duo of Jack Leach and Moeen Ali with ease. With former England cricketers such as Michael Vaughan and Matt Prior criticising the Chennai pitch on Day 2 of the match after England were bowled out for a paltry 134, the Indian batters, especially Kohli and Ashwin produced batting of the highest caliber to register their respective half-century. ALSO READ: 'When ball starts to turn...': Sunil Gavaskar hammers critics for slamming Chennai pitch in 2nd Test He may not get a 100 but this @imVkohli innings has been an masterclass on this pitch ... its already 100 balls of batting that all coaches should show players on how to play on a Beach ... #INDvsENG — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 15, 2021 × It’s entertaining cricket as things are happening all the time but let’s be honest this Pitch is a shocker .. Not making any excuses as India have been better but this isn’t a Test Match 5 day prepared Pitch ... #INDvENG — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 14, 2021 × Twitterati celebrated half-centuries of Kohli and Ashwin as India look on verge of winning the second Test to equalise the series 1-1. ALSO READ: Pakistan PM Imran Khan gives thumbs up to 'top team' India Here's how Twitterati reacted to the half-century by Kohli and Ashwin He’s the greatest batter in the game of cricket playing right now - @imVkohli! England didn’t pick their best team so can’t complain. Missing Jimmy, BIG TIME! — Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) February 15, 2021 × Sometimes in Test Cricket a 50 you make in challenging conditions and situation will be more satisfying than a 200 you make on a flat pitch. I am sure this is one such innings for @imVkohli A master class on how to play on a turning track. #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/8NYs7fTMAk — VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 15, 2021 × Fifty in second innings in first Test. Fifty in second innings in second Test. Both was tough pitch to bat on and best of the best stands tall for India - Virat Kohli. — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 15, 2021 × Kohli is majestic. This is a masterclass in how to bat on a ploughed field. #INDvENG — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 15, 2021 × Appreciation tweet for Ash Anna — A (@_shortarmjab_) February 15, 2021 × Ash Anna giving English team their own medicine ' sweep and reverse sweep ' . #INDvsENG #Pitch pic.twitter.com/13XNXRw50B — Kushal Gowda (@Kushalg77328189) February 15, 2021 × Ash anna showing england batsman how to bat on turners rather than crying pic.twitter.com/Od7in2K9xw — Siddarth (@Adelaide__141) February 15, 2021 × Not only did Kohli and Ashwin shut critics of the Chennai pitch with their quality batting display, former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar also lashed out at the critics for unnecessary slamming the quality of the strip in Chennai. "We saw how Rohit Sharma getting 150, and yesterday he was getting close to ball and batting. This criticism (on pitch) is pretty warranted," Gavaskar said on Star Sports. "Some of them are saying that - but you have a seaming pitch in England. Australia get dismissed for 46 - the ball keeps seeming all throughout. No one talks about that. It's always about Indian pitches, and when the ball starts to turn, people pose a problem," he added. With Kohli and Ashwin still batting, the Indian duo would be looking to convert their 50+ scores to a century to make this Test even more special, moreover in front of the fans.

'That's how you bat on dustbowl': Twitter explodes after Kohli, Ashwin register 50s on 'beach' Chennai pitch

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir pointed out two England batsmen that Virat and Co. need to get rid of quickly to get a firm grip on the Test.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-knew-pitch-was-going-to-turn-was-mentally-prepared-says-rohit-363421" hreflang="en">Ind vs Eng: Knew pitch was going to turn, was mentally prepared, says Rohit</a>

“The key batters from England’s point of view are Dom Sibley and Joe Root,” Gambhir said on Star Sports at the end of day’s play.

Gambhir felt that Sibley could frustrate Indian bowlers by blocking the ball and said that he does not throw his wicket away.&nbsp;

“Sibley bats time, he’s not gonna throw his wicket away, you have to get him out. He’s a little bit like Pujara. Not gonna compare him as Pujara is in a different league and Sibley is just starting his career. He’s someone who’s got the temperament and you need that when you have to keep blocking to frustrate the bowlers,” Gambhir added.

Root, who's double ton in the first Test ensured a win for England, will be a huge wicket for India. However, Gambhir felt that it won't be easy for strokes players like Root.&nbsp;

“It’s not gonna be easy for stroke players. England can bat pretty well. We’ve seen some unpredictable and unimaginable things happening. But it’s gonna be very difficult for England if India get to 370-375. Axar is going to be dangerous. Kuldeep can probably finish the tail. So different challenges, against a different bowling attack,” Gambhir added.

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir pointed out two England batsmen that Virat and Co. need to get rid of quickly to get a firm grip on the Test. ALSO READ: Ind vs Eng: Knew pitch was going to turn, was mentally prepared, says Rohit “The key batters from England’s point of view are Dom Sibley and Joe Root,” Gambhir said on Star Sports at the end of day’s play.

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir pointed out two England batsmen that Virat and Co. need to get rid of quickly to get a firm grip on the Test. ALSO READ: Ind vs Eng: Knew pitch was going to turn, was mentally prepared, says Rohit “The key batters from England’s point of view are Dom Sibley and Joe Root,” Gambhir said on Star Sports at the end of day’s play. Gambhir felt that Sibley could frustrate Indian bowlers by blocking the ball and said that he does not throw his wicket away. “Sibley bats time, he’s not gonna throw his wicket away, you have to get him out. He’s a little bit like Pujara. Not gonna compare him as Pujara is in a different league and Sibley is just starting his career. He’s someone who’s got the temperament and you need that when you have to keep blocking to frustrate the bowlers,” Gambhir added. Root, who's double ton in the first Test ensured a win for England, will be a huge wicket for India. However, Gambhir felt that it won't be easy for strokes players like Root. “It’s not gonna be easy for stroke players. England can bat pretty well. We’ve seen some unpredictable and unimaginable things happening. But it’s gonna be very difficult for England if India get to 370-375. Axar is going to be dangerous. Kuldeep can probably finish the tail. So different challenges, against a different bowling attack,” Gambhir added.

'Different challenges': Gambhir names 2 key England batsmen India should watchout for

India seized control of the second test after their spinners wreaked havoc on a dustbowl and skittled out England for 134 at Chennai`s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-virat-kohli-does-the-whistle-podu-to-get-the-chennai-crowd-going-363578" hreflang="en">WATCH: Virat Kohli does the 'whistle podu' to get the Chennai crowd going</a> 
 
The hosts finished day two on 54-1 for an overall lead of 249 runs on a deteriorating track. 
 
Rohit Sharma, who smashed 161 in the first innings, was batting on 25 with Cheteshwar Pujara on seven at the other end. 
 
Earlier, Moeen Ali and Olly Stone split the last four Indian wickets as the hosts added 29 runs to their overnight score before being all out for 329 in their first innings. 
 
Rishabh Pant was left stranded on 58 not out, having hit three sixes in his 77-ball blitz.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fleeting-view-prime-minister-narendra-modi-cheers-for-team-india-from-the-skies-363552" hreflang="en">'Fleeting view': Prime Minister Narendra Modi cheers for Team India from the skies</a>

When they returned, India unleashed their three-pronged spin attack as they looked to level the series at 1-1. 
 
On a pitch where the ball was kicking up dust, England`s reply got off to a woeful start as they lost four wickets before lunch. 
 
Ishant Sharma trapped Rory Burns lbw for a duck and Dom Sibley fell for 16 after India successfully reviewed a not-out decision. 
 
Debutant Axar Patel dealt the biggest blow by dismissing Joe Root for six to claim his maiden test wicket. 
 
The England captain, whose proficiency against spin would have been crucial on this pitch, fluffed his sweep shot offering a top-edge to Ravichandran Ashwin at short fine-leg. 
 
The touring side`s middle-order caved in after the interval. 
 
Ashwin claimed the important wicket of Ben Stokes, dismissing the all-rounder bowled for 18. 
 
India did not feel the need to use second seamer Mohammed Siraj until the 39th over. 
 
Finally pressed into the attack, Siraj ended Ollie Pope`s promising knock of 22 with his first delivery. 
 
Ben Foakes, playing his first match of the four-test series, top-scored with an unbeaten 42 as England avoided the follow-on but conceded a first-innings lead of 195 runs. 
 
Ashwin returned figures of 5-43 while Ishant and Patel claimed two wickets apiece.

India seized control of the second test after their spinners wreaked havoc on a dustbowl and skittled out England for 134 at Chennai`s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

India seized control of the second test after their spinners wreaked havoc on a dustbowl and skittled out England for 134 at Chennai`s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. ALSO READ: WATCH: Virat Kohli does the 'whistle podu' to get the Chennai crowd going The hosts finished day two on 54-1 for an overall lead of 249 runs on a deteriorating track. Rohit Sharma, who smashed 161 in the first innings, was batting on 25 with Cheteshwar Pujara on seven at the other end. Earlier, Moeen Ali and Olly Stone split the last four Indian wickets as the hosts added 29 runs to their overnight score before being all out for 329 in their first innings. Rishabh Pant was left stranded on 58 not out, having hit three sixes in his 77-ball blitz. ALSO READ: 'Fleeting view': Prime Minister Narendra Modi cheers for Team India from the skies When they returned, India unleashed their three-pronged spin attack as they looked to level the series at 1-1. On a pitch where the ball was kicking up dust, England`s reply got off to a woeful start as they lost four wickets before lunch. Ishant Sharma trapped Rory Burns lbw for a duck and Dom Sibley fell for 16 after India successfully reviewed a not-out decision. Debutant Axar Patel dealt the biggest blow by dismissing Joe Root for six to claim his maiden test wicket. The England captain, whose proficiency against spin would have been crucial on this pitch, fluffed his sweep shot offering a top-edge to Ravichandran Ashwin at short fine-leg. The touring side`s middle-order caved in after the interval. Ashwin claimed the important wicket of Ben Stokes, dismissing the all-rounder bowled for 18. India did not feel the need to use second seamer Mohammed Siraj until the 39th over. Finally pressed into the attack, Siraj ended Ollie Pope`s promising knock of 22 with his first delivery. Ben Foakes, playing his first match of the four-test series, top-scored with an unbeaten 42 as England avoided the follow-on but conceded a first-innings lead of 195 runs. Ashwin returned figures of 5-43 while Ishant and Patel claimed two wickets apiece.

IND vs ENG, Day 2: India stretch lead after spinners wreck England in Chennai

Indian cricket fans returned to the stands after over a year in the second Test match between India and England. Indian cricket fans returned to the stands for the first time since October 2019 after BCCI gave their nod for spectators to return. The Indian cricket board have allowed 33,000 fans to enter the MA Chidambaram stadium for the crucial second Test match between India and England.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fleeting-view-prime-minister-narendra-modi-cheers-for-team-india-from-the-skies-363552" hreflang="en">'Fleeting view': Prime Minister Narendra Modi cheers for Team India from the skies</a>

Virat Kohli, who is known to perform well in front of the crowd, was spotted gesturing towards the fans on the stands. The skipper urged them to up the volume and cheer for the team as the bowlers were dismissing the English batsmen. He did a "whistle podu" gesture, which is a catchphrase for Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings.&nbsp;

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When in Chennai, you <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a>! 👌👌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> skipper <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> egging the Chepauk crowd on &amp; they do not disappoint. 👏👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/Paytm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Paytm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvENG</a> 
 
Follow the match 👉 <a href="https://t.co/Hr7Zk2kjNC">https://t.co/Hr7Zk2kjNC</a> <a href="https://t.co/JR6BfvRqtZ">pic.twitter.com/JR6BfvRqtZ</a>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1360854727836110850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Despite the club rivalries, skipper Kohli urged the crowd to cheer for the team.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravi-ashwin-overtakes-harbhajan-singh-in-elite-list-after-dismissing-ben-stokes-363543" hreflang="en">Ravi Ashwin overtakes Harbhajan Singh in elite list after dismissing Ben Stokes</a>

Local boy Ravichandran Ashwin picked up a five-wicket haul as India restricted England to 134, taking a massive 195-run lead. Indian batsmen Rohit Sharma and &nbsp;Cheteshwar Pujara are on the crease as the hosts ended with a lead of 249 runs and nine wickets in hand.&nbsp;

India are looking to level the series after losing the opener at the same venue by 227 runs.

Indian cricket fans returned to the stands after over a year in the second Test match between India and England. Indian cricket fans returned to the stands for the first time since October 2019 after BCCI gave their nod for spectators to return.

Indian cricket fans returned to the stands after over a year in the second Test match between India and England. Indian cricket fans returned to the stands for the first time since October 2019 after BCCI gave their nod for spectators to return. The Indian cricket board have allowed 33,000 fans to enter the MA Chidambaram stadium for the crucial second Test match between India and England. ALSO READ: 'Fleeting view': Prime Minister Narendra Modi cheers for Team India from the skies Virat Kohli, who is known to perform well in front of the crowd, was spotted gesturing towards the fans on the stands. The skipper urged them to up the volume and cheer for the team as the bowlers were dismissing the English batsmen. He did a "whistle podu" gesture, which is a catchphrase for Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings. When in Chennai, you #WhistlePodu! 👌👌#TeamIndia skipper @imVkohli egging the Chepauk crowd on & they do not disappoint. 👏👏 @Paytm #INDvENG Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/Hr7Zk2kjNC pic.twitter.com/JR6BfvRqtZ — BCCI (@BCCI) February 14, 2021 × Despite the club rivalries, skipper Kohli urged the crowd to cheer for the team. ALSO READ: Ravi Ashwin overtakes Harbhajan Singh in elite list after dismissing Ben Stokes Local boy Ravichandran Ashwin picked up a five-wicket haul as India restricted England to 134, taking a massive 195-run lead. Indian batsmen Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara are on the crease as the hosts ended with a lead of 249 runs and nine wickets in hand. India are looking to level the series after losing the opener at the same venue by 227 runs.

WATCH: Virat Kohli does the 'whistle podu' to get the Chennai crowd going

The 162-run stand between the Indian vice-captains (of different formats) gave hosts a much-needed edge over England by the end of Day 1 of the second Test at the Chepauk stadium.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ball-of-the-century-virat-kohli-left-stunned-by-moeen-ali-ripper-363338" hreflang="en">Watch: Ball of the century? Virat Kohli left stunned by Moeen Ali ripper</a>

Opener Rohit Sharma's 161 runs powered India to a healthy total and his partnership with vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane took the hosts from 86/3 to 248/4. Rishabh Pant (33 runs) and debutant Axar Patel (5 runs) remained on the crease when India were on 300 before the bails were off.&nbsp;

Indian skipper Virat Kohli won an important toss and decided to bat first. However, the hosts suffered a major setback in the first over as Shubman Gill was out on a duck in the very first over.&nbsp;

The 86-run stand between Pujara and Sharma tried stabilising Indian innings. But Moeen Ali's ripper removed Pujara and skipper Kohli in one over putting immense pressure on hosts.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-virat-kohlis-reaction-after-rohit-sharmas-shot-against-stuart-broad-363343" hreflang="en">WATCH: Virat Kohli's reaction after Rohit Sharma's shot against Stuart Broad</a>

However, Rohit and Rahane attacked England's spinners to build a 162-run partnership put India on top. Leach got the better of Rohit and the opener was out after scoring 161 runs, whereas, Moeen Ali cleaned up Ajinkya Rahane, who was playing at 67.&nbsp;

Pant added some finishing touch as India ended their day with 300 runs on-board.&nbsp;

Moeen Ali and Jack Leach took two wickets each. Olly Stone and skipper Joe Root got one wicket apiece.&nbsp;

India will look to build on this mammoth score and will hope the pitch deteriorates so that spinners could trouble the English batting line up.&nbsp;

The 162-run stand between the Indian vice-captains (of different formats) gave hosts a much-needed edge over England by the end of Day 1 of the second Test at the Chepauk stadium.

The 162-run stand between the Indian vice-captains (of different formats) gave hosts a much-needed edge over England by the end of Day 1 of the second Test at the Chepauk stadium. ALSO READ: Watch: Ball of the century? Virat Kohli left stunned by Moeen Ali ripper Opener Rohit Sharma's 161 runs powered India to a healthy total and his partnership with vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane took the hosts from 86/3 to 248/4. Rishabh Pant (33 runs) and debutant Axar Patel (5 runs) remained on the crease when India were on 300 before the bails were off. Indian skipper Virat Kohli won an important toss and decided to bat first. However, the hosts suffered a major setback in the first over as Shubman Gill was out on a duck in the very first over. The 86-run stand between Pujara and Sharma tried stabilising Indian innings. But Moeen Ali's ripper removed Pujara and skipper Kohli in one over putting immense pressure on hosts. ALSO READ: WATCH: Virat Kohli's reaction after Rohit Sharma's shot against Stuart Broad However, Rohit and Rahane attacked England's spinners to build a 162-run partnership put India on top. Leach got the better of Rohit and the opener was out after scoring 161 runs, whereas, Moeen Ali cleaned up Ajinkya Rahane, who was playing at 67. Pant added some finishing touch as India ended their day with 300 runs on-board. Moeen Ali and Jack Leach took two wickets each. Olly Stone and skipper Joe Root got one wicket apiece. India will look to build on this mammoth score and will hope the pitch deteriorates so that spinners could trouble the English batting line up.

IND vs ENG, 2nd Test: Indian vice-captains keep hosts on top after Day 1

After Shubman Gill's dismissal, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara were under pressure to stabilise the Indian innings in the second Test against England. However, Rohit Sharma put India off-the-mark with a majestic drive through the extra cover boundary in the first ball of the second over, off Stuart Broad.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ball-of-the-century-virat-kohli-left-stunned-by-moeen-ali-ripper-363338" hreflang="en">Watch: Ball of the century? Virat Kohli left stunned by Moeen Ali ripper</a>

Kohli, who was all padded up in the dressing room, was overjoyed by the shot and cheered for Rohit Sharma.

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Yes boy ! : Virat Kohli 
applauding Rohit Sharma 's glorious cover drive.💙 
 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RohitSharma?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RohitSharma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvENG</a> <a href="https://t.co/4v7CAYz4KI">pic.twitter.com/4v7CAYz4KI</a>
— 🄿 ♚ (@Rarefieed) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rarefieed/status/1360472078265192450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Despite Kohli's&nbsp;dismissal, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma's 100-run stand helped India to 189 runs at the loss of three wickets by the end of the second session.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/way-to-go-batting-legend-vivian-richards-bats-for-freedomfortibet-363321" hreflang="en">'Way to go': Batting legend Vivian Richards bats for #FreedomForTibet</a>

Rohit Sharma scored his 7th Test century after 9 innings (15 Months) and is going strong with Rahane.

Virat Kohli opted to bat after winning the toss. Virat and Co. currently trail 0-1 in the four-match series, and a loss in the second Test will rule the side out of the qualification race for the final of the World Test Championship.

Team India have made three changes ahead of the match, they have rested Jasprit Bumrah and brought in Mohammed Siraj. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who is making his Test debut, and Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav replace left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and off-spinner Washington Sundar, respectively.

After Shubman Gill's dismissal, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara were under pressure to stabilise the Indian innings in the second Test against England. However, Rohit Sharma put India off-the-mark with a majestic drive through the extra cover boundary in the first ball of the second over, off Stuart Broad.

After Shubman Gill's dismissal, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara were under pressure to stabilise the Indian innings in the second Test against England. However, Rohit Sharma put India off-the-mark with a majestic drive through the extra cover boundary in the first ball of the second over, off Stuart Broad. ALSO READ: Watch: Ball of the century? Virat Kohli left stunned by Moeen Ali ripper Kohli, who was all padded up in the dressing room, was overjoyed by the shot and cheered for Rohit Sharma. Yes boy ! : Virat Kohli applauding Rohit Sharma 's glorious cover drive.💙 #RohitSharma #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/4v7CAYz4KI — 🄿 ♚ (@Rarefieed) February 13, 2021 × Despite Kohli's dismissal, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma's 100-run stand helped India to 189 runs at the loss of three wickets by the end of the second session. ALSO READ: 'Way to go': Batting legend Vivian Richards bats for #FreedomForTibet Rohit Sharma scored his 7th Test century after 9 innings (15 Months) and is going strong with Rahane. Virat Kohli opted to bat after winning the toss. Virat and Co. currently trail 0-1 in the four-match series, and a loss in the second Test will rule the side out of the qualification race for the final of the World Test Championship. Team India have made three changes ahead of the match, they have rested Jasprit Bumrah and brought in Mohammed Siraj. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who is making his Test debut, and Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav replace left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and off-spinner Washington Sundar, respectively.

WATCH: Virat Kohli's reaction after Rohit Sharma's shot against Stuart Broad

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