ENG vs IND 2018, 1st Test: Keaton Jennings 'Cool' with Virat Kohli's Celebration

England batsman Keaton Jennings insisted that there was nothing wrong with Virat Kohli’s celebration on day one of the first Test in Edgbaston.

At 216 for three, England were well on top. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow had already crossed their fifties and stitched together a century-plus stand. A breakthrough for India was looking unlikely at that moment before the two batsmen decided to steal a double.

Bairstow tucked a Ravichandran Ashwin delivery in front of square on the on-side and made up his mind on taking a two. Root also did not hesitate in obliging to his partner’s call.

However, the England captain had to pay a hefty fee for the decision, as Virat Kohli ended his 80-run knock by running him out.

As soon as the ball went past Kohli, he ran after it, gathered it, turned across and after spotting the Root was running towards the danger end, made an accurate throw.

Ashwin was looking to collect the ball but eventually, let it go through, as the ball crashed into the stumps with Root well short of the crease. A livid Root walked off the ground immediately, as the Indian players started celebrating.

But it all paled in comparison to how Kohli celebrated. The 29-year old unleashed a few expletives before mocking Root’s bat-drop celebration from the third ODI at Trent Bridge a fortnight ago.

The gesture could land Kohli in trouble with the ICC officials keeping an eye on this. However, Jennings sees nothing wrong with it.

“Everybody is entitled to celebrate how they want to,” said Jennings at the end of day’s play. “He celebrated, and that’s cool.”

The run-out completely changed the complexion of the game. It triggered a collapse, as India ended day one on top by reducing the hosts to 285 for nine from 216 for three.

Jennings further rued a missed opportunity to score big. The left-hander was batting on 42 when Mohammed Shami bowled him in the most unfortunate of manners.

Keaton Jennings had managed to put the bat on the ball, but it somehow went back to the stumps.

“I suppose the best players in the world make those lucky breaks or have them go in their favour,” he said. “That’s the way it is. I’ve made an error, misjudged the ball, and it’s ended up in my stumps.”

Asked if England missed the chance on taking advantage early on in the five-match series, Jennings was not so sure.

“Yes and no. At the same stage that has been a little bit of a missed opportunity for us. But then you look off 35 overs of cricket, off the old ball, there still seems to be a bit of lateral movement. I suppose from our point of view we’ve got 300 on the board and if we can come out and be pretty relentless in the way we go about hitting our areas at some point tomorrow, you don’t actually know what a good score it is. On the one hand, it is a missed opportunity, but on the other, you don’t know what a good score is until both sides have batted.”