If India Sets A Target Near 200 Runs; Then It Won't Be Easy For England, Feels Batting Coach Vikram Rathour

India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour feels that if India manages to set a target of near 200 runs against England in the ongoing Lord’s Test, it will be tough for England to chase the score. India currently leads by 154 runs in the 2^nd Test match against England, with 181 runs for 6 wickets on the scoreboard. After a good batting show in the 1^st innings with 364 runs, India succumbed to England’s bowling attack in the 2^nd innings.

Top-order batsmen KL Rahul (5), Rohit Sharma (21), and Virat Kohli (20) lost their wickets cheaply in the 1^st first session of Day 4. Later, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara made a solid partnership of 100 runs to rescue the team out of a miserable situation. However, all-rounder Moeen Ali’s spin attack in the final session shattered India’s batting as he dismissed Ajinkya Rahane (61) and Ravindra Jadeja (3).

If India Can Take The Target Near 200 Runs, Then It Won’t Be Easy For England: Vikram Rathour

While speaking during the virtual press conference post Day 4, India’s batting coach Vikram Rathour said that India might be able to outplay England if they reach a target near 200 runs.

“This will be a typical fifth day wicket of a Test match, where the ball will go up and down and is also turning, like we saw. So, again like I said earlier, if we can take the target near 200 runs, then it won’t be easy for England,” Vikram Rathour said.

Speaking about the failure of the Indian batsmen to pile enough runs in the ongoing Test, Vikram Rathour said that the players are giving their best, and soon runs will follow them.

“When you are playing cricket, you will have lean phases as a batsman, so you need to get through them, you need to keep working hard and keep getting your processes right, and as support staff we are helping them to do that.

“As for added pressure on us, not really, but we do feel concerned if someone is really working hard and he fails. You feel bad, you feel that you know that hard-work is not really paying off”, he further said.

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“But as far as we are concerned with the batters, all of them have absolute faith in them. They will come good and as I said they are having their processes right, they are working really hard in the practice and giving their best. So soon runs will follow,” Vikram Rathour added.

In the first innings, KL Rahul smacked a marvellous knock of 129 runs for India, while his opening partner Rohit Sharma slammed 83 runs. However, the openers could not give an equally brilliant start in the 2^nd innings. After losing 6 wickets for 181 runs, India leads by 154 runs with the only full-time batsman Rishabh Pant left on in the crease with pacer Ishant Sharma.

For England, skipper Joe Root shattered impeccable 180 runs in the 1^st innings to earn a 27-run lead for England. In the 2^nd innings, Mark Wood picked 3 wickets while Moeen Ali scalped 2 wickets to put India under pressure while batting on Day 4.