India vs England: Virat Kohli all praise for all-rounders after series win

Virat Kohli has praised the contributions of Ravichandran Ashwin, Jayant Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja after India secured a thumping innings and 36-run win over England at Wankhede to secure an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the series.

MUMBAI: Virat Kohli has praised the efforts of the all-rounders in his team and stated that their contributions were making a difference as India secured their fifth consecutive series win after beating England by an innings and 36 runs at the Wankhede stadium.

James Anderson was given a hard time by Ravichandran Ashwin and the Indian fielders after he took a dig at Virat Kohli’s double century. (BCCI)

Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Jayant Yadav all played decisive roles with both bat and ball to give India an edge over England.

The India all-rounders had turned the course of the game during the fourth day and their captain said runs from the lower order can really demoralise the opposition.

“They are not just match-saving runs, they are match-winning runs (that the lower-order is contributing),” said Kohli.

“That’s something that we always lacked. And for the guys to step up at the right time and Jayant’s hundred was outstanding. At one stage even though I was on 140 he was outscoring me,” added the Indian captain.

“That makes a massive difference, it (all-rounder) just gives the captain an extra option which as good as playing 12 people on the field.”

Kohli said it was important to unearth talented all-rounders and draft them into the senior team and not wait too long for them to toil in domestic cricket. “If you get guys like that, you identify them, you get them in, get them to international circuit immediately,” he said, while adding, “If you see Jayant’s record in the first-class cricket, his runs and wickets won’t sort of shock you or mesmerise you but here he is and he knows the game perfectly well.”