Virat Kohli Reveals How The Crucial Alastair Cook Dismissal Was Plotted By Cheteshwar Pujara

Joshua Arpit Nath
Joshua Arpit Nath
Updated on Nov 22, 2016, 17:45 IST
Kohli Cook Pujara

India's team work in the Vizag Test against England was praiseworthy with contributions coming in from all quarters. Be it batting, bowling and fielding, Indians played well in tandem and supported their peers all throughout the game to effect a 246-run drubbing over the visiting side.

Kohli, Pujara

AFP

In another example of one player picking the brains of the other, captain Virat Kohli has revealed that the crucial dismissal of England captain Alastair Cook on Day 4 of the second Test was masterminded by Cheteshwar Pujara, who was stationed as one of the close-in catching fielders.

Cook

AFP

Cook was batting masterfully, biding out time in the middle and keeping the Indian bowlers at bat. He had already faced 187 balls for his 54 runs, England had almost batted out two sessions with the loss of just one wicket. Going into the final day with nine wickets to bat out the day would have been ideal for England as they could've challenged India's bowling.

India fielders celebrate

AFP

When all ideas didn't seem to work for Kohli the skipper, he got a suggestion from none other than Pujara, his partner in crime in grinding England down in the first innings. "Pujara said we could probably try a different field, have two more on the leg-side and put a bit of doubt in his head, and it worked. He tried to play in front of his pad, not close to the body and was out leg-before. I mean, these little margins can give you the game," Kohli told reporters after the game.

Cook's dismissal triggered off an England collapse unseen in the series so far with them losing their final nine wickets for just 71 runs including five in the morning session on the final day. It was only a matter of time before India walloped them to take the 1-0 series lead with three Tests to go.

Indiatimes