Very little did the English team anticipate that they will end up on the losing side after putting on 350 on the board. The fact that might have frustrated them more was that they were bossing the game at one stage of the match. With India reeling at 63/4, very few gave India a chance to get to the mammoth target. However, skipper Virat Kohli and Kedar Jadhav had other plans. Kohli and Jadhav forged a scintillating 200-run stand for the 5th wicket that got India back into the hunt. Both players notched up belligerent centuries to see India get close to the target.
Kohli’s knock saw him score 122 while Jadhav had 120 runs to his name. Eventually, it was Hardik Pandya and R Ashwin, who took India over the line with 3 wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare. Earlier in the match, England posted 350 on the board riding on fifties from Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Jason Roy. After the match, the Indian team players were certainly excited and delighted. The English camp stood perplexed and amused about what had been inflicted upon them.
Kedar Jadhav was named the Man of Match for his herculean knock of 120 off just 76 balls. His knock was studded with 12 fours and 4 sixes. Jadhav said that it was a great feeling to have scored a ton in front of his home crowd and won the match for India. He thanked Virat Kohli for keeping him going for long.
“It’s a great feeling that I could win a game for my country in front of my home crowd, and in front of my family. If you can make your team win, make your country proud, that’s the greatest feeling. I could play this long because of captain Virat Kohli. He has done it so many times, showing how to chase big totals. I missed many chances to bat with Virat and watch him bat closely in the past, so today was the chance. Special day for me. Running with Virat is tough. Cramps are fine now and I am feeling better now,” said Kedar Jadhav.
English captain Eoin Morgan rued poor bowling on the day. He mentioned that he would have fancied bowling first on the track as well. He cited that he has been on the other side as well when they have chased in excess of 350. Hence, it is not very hard to relate.
“We did (have the runs on the board). We wanted to bowl first to see what a good score was. We came to a ground that was pretty small and conditions were tough on the bowlers. You post 350 and you think you’re in the game. We did manage to stop the partnership between Jadhav and Kohli but credit to them. Lot of grass on the wicket today. It hasn’t turned much, even in the practice. Even in the T20 World Cup last year, the ball didn’t turn a whole lot, so not surprised. 350 is clearly not a winning score here,” quoted Eoin Morgan.
“We have chased 350s, so we now know what it feels like to be at this end of the stick. We were in the game for most of it, so all’s not lost. We had a tricky period between the 35th and the 45th over where we were trying to get the momentum. Credit to India for taking Buttler’s wicket but Stokes came in and managed to get in,” he added further.
Hardik Pandya was the pick of the Indian bowlers on the day. Pandya scalped 2/46 in his 9 overs. Later, he ensured that India were over the line with an unbeaten 40 off 37 balls. He credited Virat Kohli and Kedar Jadhav for having batted so well.
“Definitely I am pleased that I contributed with both the bat and ball. Credit to Virat and Kedar, they gave me confidence that I can go for it. I was keeping it simple with the ball and got two wickets in that process. The show from Kedar and Virat was amazing. I wanted to finish the game,” said Pandya.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli was all thrilled about the win. He led India from the front with 122 to his name in just 105 balls. He called the win as a very special one for him. He admitted that he will cherish the partnership for a long long time.
“This is going to take a while to sink in. Conceding 350 runs and then being 60 odd for four.. their bowlers were on top and it took a special partnership. What a terrific innings by Kedar. He missed out in Delhi against New Zealand; had almost taken us over the line there. Pandya finished it well with Ashwin in the end. We have chased 350 in the past but we had good starts then. So a very, very special win this. I said to Kedar, when he came to the crease, that if we get to 150/4, watch out. They will press the panic button. The wicket is good, so you can play your shots. Some of the shots he played, I was in awe. I couldn’t believe them. Very special partnership that I will remember for a long time,” said Kohli.
“I think the best learning you have is out there in the middle. I wanted to push him to put to the max limit (on him pushing Kedar for running between the wickets). He has the talent, that’s why he’s batting for India. To get a hundred like that at No.6 is special, especially with your family here. The only way to come out of that situation was to counterattack, so I played at No.3. We need to tell the opposition that we are here to string a good partnership and have a crack at the target. We believed that we could win from any situation. The wicket was really placid. After 63/4, you still get over the line with six balls to spare. They batted really well. It was a case of our bowlers trying their hardest. We had a few consistency issues (in our bowling) which we can rectify. Thanks to the crowd. We enjoyed the full house,” he added further.
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