ENG vs IND 2018, First Test: We'll Go To Bed Dreaming About Getting Virat Kohli: James Anderson

England pace spearhead James Anderson admitted that the first Test against India is now a case of dismissing Virat Kohli or losing the game.

England would have probably wrapped up the game by now if Virat Kohli had not shown his class in Edgbaston. In the first inning, the hosts had the visitors reeling at 100 for 5 after scoring 287. However, Kohli played one of his finest Test knocks, scoring a majestic 149 to help his side recover and put up 274.

As a result of that stunning century, the game is now set for a thrilling finish and Kohli is once again the man standing between England and a win.

As many as 14 wickets fell on the third day as England collapsed to 87-7 in their second innings. But a 65-ball 63 runs knock from Sam Curran helped England recover and post 180 to set India a target of 194.

In reply, India, just like the first innings, kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. They were 5 down for just 78. But just like the first innings, Kohli held firm from one end to keep his side in contention. The skipper ended the day on 43 not out and had Dinesh Karthik as company. India ended the day on 110 for 5, needing 84 runs more to take the lead in the series.

Not surprisingly, Anderson is wary that if he Kohli replicates his first-innings heroics, the game would go only one way.

“We’ll go to bed dreaming about getting Kohli first thing. We need five wickets, it’s as simple as that, and we need them fairly quickly, because otherwise they’ll get the runs. We’ll give it everything we’ve got. It’s an exciting place to be, because we could do something special by winning this game,” said Anderson after the game.

Anderson also praised Kohli for the way he forged important partnerships with lower-order batsmen during the first innings.

“The way Kohli batted with the tail in the first innings was brilliant. We couldn’t get six balls at the other guys. But no one’s invincible in world cricket. We can get him out, and we’ll be looking to get him early in the morning,” he said.