ENG vs IND 2018, 1st Test - Virat Kohli has Won the First Round but the Battle is On - James Anderson

Veteran England fast bowler James Anderson after the end of day 3 admitted that although Team India skipper Virat Kohli won the first round, the battle will still be on in the remainder of the Test series.

Meanwhile, Kohli registered his debut century in England when he single-handedly guided India to England’s score. While the other batsmen kept coming and going, he stood his ground from the other end. Virat Kohli scored 149 runs before being out as the last batsmen for India.

However, England’s highest ever Test wicket-taker, James Anderson feels although Kohli has won the first battle, the war will be on.

“Yes, he has definitely won the first round, but the battle is on. We will look to lift the standards and see how it goes,” Anderson told SkySports.

Anderson feels Virat Kohli is still playing with hard hands the way he did back in 2014. He also cited that there were few missed chances which went in Kohli’s favour.

“A couple of chances were put down and that hurt our chances. Ben (Stokes) first came and told me that Kohli is standing outside the crease to deal with the swing but I don’t think that’s going to bother me,” he added.

But James Anderson conceeded that Virat Kohli has managed to negate the LBW option standing outside the crease.

“He is taking the leg-before out of the equation but I think our bowlers have done a good job in the first innings,” he concluded.

India verge on winning the first Test

After a superb display from the bowlers, India’s hopes will lie on Virat Kohli to give them a 1-0 lead against England. After missing out his 150 in the first essay, he is also waging a lone war in the second innings. Stuart Broad picked two wickets while James Anderson, Sam Curran, and Ben Stokes bagged one wicket each.

Virat Kohli (43*)  along with Dinesh Karthik (18*) is still at the crease with India needing 84 runs to win. Previously, in the day, Ishant Sharma created magic to rattle the England batting order.

He returned with a five-wicket haul while Ravichandran Ashwin and Umesh Yadav returned with three and two each. They bowled out the host for 184 runs after a late cameo of Sam Curran.