India vs England 2021: Virat Kohli’s Captaincy Is ‘Bit Like Viv Richards’, Feels Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has compared Indian captain Virat Kohli to West Indies batting legend Sir Vivian Richards. Manjrekar felt that Kohli’s infectious energy gives the entire Indian national cricket team, the hope to make a match out of any situation they are in.

The 55-year-old was speaking about the aggression showed by the Indian captain on day 4 of the ongoing first Test against England in Chennai, as the visitors piled on runs and asked India to chase down 420 to win the match. After their 578 in the first innings, thanks to Joe Root’s 40 and contributions from Jos Buttler, Ollie Pope, and Dom Bess, England managed 178 in the second do, despite Ravichandran Ashwin taking 6/61, his 28^th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Virat Kohli gives Team India hope of making a match out of any situation: Sanjay Manjrekar

Despite giving England a lead of 241 runs, India’s comeback started with the first ball of England’s 2nd innings when Ravichandran Ashwin removed opener, Rory Burns, on the first ball. Virat Kohli’s decision to go with the off-spinner right from the start earned him praise and India kept picking wickets regularly from thereon.

“If you saw Virat Kohli’s reaction when they got that wicket just before Lunch, it shows how this Team India thinks. Especially with Virat Kohli at the helm. Tactically, people have issues with his captaincy, but this is where Virat Kohli is like Vivian Richards, where they are always hopeful,” Sanjay Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.

“And when a captain believes that you can still make a match out of this one from the current situation,” Manjrekar further said.

Meanwhile, India lost Rohit Sharma to a beauty of a delivery from Jack Leach, but still have Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill at the helm. The home team needs 381 runs more to win the match and England needs 9 wickets, therefore, all results are possible, on the final day of an exciting Test match.

India, in their first innings, saw Rishabh Pant blast his way to 91, while Cheteshwar Pujara played a clam knock of 73 runs before getting out in a bizarre fashion. Local lad Washington Sundar hit a sublime 85*, narrowing lead England had on the Indian team a bit.

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