Backing Ishant Sharma & Co’ to trouble England batsmen if Motera pitch offers assistance to the seamers, Indian captain Virat Kohli said the hosts have the bowlers who can exploit Joe Root & Co’s weaknesses in the upcoming pink-ball Test. The third Test of the ongoing series will be played at the newly-renovated Motera Stadium and it will be a day-night contest.
On a rank-turner in Chennai in the second Test, India dominated the proceedings from the start as R Ashwin and Axar Patel ran riot against England to help India record a big win by 317 runs and level the series 1-1. However, the new pitch at Motera Stadium is expected to aid pacers after pictures shared by the BCCI showed a large green covering on the track.
Ahead of the third Test which is going to be a crucial encounter for both sides with the battle for a spot in the final of the World Test Championship intensifying, Kohli has made it clear that even in seam-friendly conditions, India will be looking forward to giving a tough time to the hosts.
“We are focused on our strengths as a team. There are weaknesses in the opposition as well and we have the bowlers to exploit those weaknesses. If the conditions are going to be seamer-friendly, then it’s going to be a challenge for them too,” Kohli said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday.
After losing the series-opener in Chennai by 227 runs, India bounced back to winning ways at the same venue and levelled the series 1-1.
