Both Are World-Class Players, So Momentum Will Keep Swinging - Inzamam-ul-Haq On Virat Kohli And James Anderson Battle

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is excited to see the rivalry between Virat Kohli and James Anderson further in the series after the England pacer managed to get rid of the Indian captain on Day 2 of the Nottingham Test.

Anderson, who hadn’t dismissed Kohli even once since 2014, nipped him for a golden duck at Trent Bridge on Thursday to stamp his authority once again. Between the two dismissals, Kohli, with the help of some luck, had managed to tackle Anderson for three series, two home and one away.

Now, the battle has once again taken fire, and promises for engrossing contests for probably the final series of Anderson against India. Inzamam-ul-Haq said when two behemoths such as Anderson and Kohli face each other, the momentum can swing either way.

“Anderson vs Kohli has been quite a contest over the years. It was there in the beginning, then we did not get to see it for a while but whenever these two have come across, Anderson has been able to dismiss him 8 to 9 times.

“But Virat played him well last time at Trent Bridge, so now we will get to see this riveting battle throughout the series. Both are big players, world-class players, so momentum will keep swinging,” Inzamam-ul-Haq said in his YouTube video. 

Rohit Sharma is playing too defensively keeping the Test format in mind: Inzamam-ul-Haq

India’s collapse, from 97/0 to 112/4, was triggered by the dismissal of opener Rohit Sharma, who had vigilantly faced the English seamers in trying conditions. He was dismissed, though, at the stroke of lunch, via a hook shot, but not before creating a strong base for the middle-order to cash on – which they didn’t.

However, Inzamam-ul-Haq is unimpressed with Sharma curbing his natural instincts of playing attacking shots. It is the third time in a row – twice in the WTC final – that Sharma had reached the 30 run mark but failed to convert his start.

“Rohit Sharma is basically a stroke player. If you inhibit your strokes, it will be difficult for you later on. He has scored 36 off 107 deliveries. Had he faced this many deliveries in ODI or any other format, he would have scored a century.

“He is playing too defensively keeping the Test format in mind. This is not Rohit Sharma’s game and it is not required in the format nowadays as well. Indian batsmen are stroke players and should stick to their strengths,” the legendary Pakistan batsman opined.

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