Virat Kohli scored a scintillating 149 to rescue India and leave the intriguing first Test at Edgbaston finely balanced as England were left to rue several missed chances before they ended the second day 22 runs ahead on Thursday. With England’s pace bowlers running through India’s much-vaunted top-order to leave them reeling on 100-5, it was left to captain Virat Kohli to string together a series of partnerships as he seemed to be on a one-man mission to overhaul England’s first innings total of 287.
Following his Day 2 heroics, Media around the world hailed the Indian skipper for his superlative knock.
“King Kohli reigns as India fight back,” read a cricket.com.au headline.
“Virat Kohli, the single-handed hero, produced the innings of a lifetime to keep his side in what has become a wonderfully volatile game of cricket,” theguardian.com wrote in their day report.
“This was Test cricket at its finest, a compelling ding-dong of a contest that saw England and India scrapping toe to toe before a true heavyweight champion displayed his peerless punching power. This was a day that belonged to India’s colossus of a captain Virat Kohli, who almost single-handedly turned the first installment of this highly anticipated five-match series into a one-innings dogfight,” read a dailymail.co.uk article.
“Sam Curran tears through top order but masterly Virat Kohli saves India with magnificent century,” read a telegraph.co.uk headline.
