Virat Kohli demands India fielding improvement in second Test against England

The second of the five-Test series starts in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

It was Cook’s sixth test hundred against India and he declared his team’s second innings on 260-3 to set India an improbable target of 310.

Captain Alastair Cook confirmed those deliberations at his preview press conference.

“It was a brilliant performance by our three spinners”. It’s not that they took 5-fors and totally turned the game around for us.

With the first game ending in a draw, both India and England will eye a lead as they head into the second game on 17th November. “I think to find that balance was a revelation”.

Kohli’s principal concern, however, is India’s work in the field – after they put down six catches in England’s mammoth first innings last week. I think we put everything on the line there. Rather than that I was just focusing on one ball at a time and trying to take my mind off the situation. So, he has been a very important player for England. “I expect the wicket to do the same”, the 28-year-old said.

Mishra said that the pitch was slow and hard to bowl on, adding that it would have been a lot more exciting had there been more pace in the wicket.

Perhaps Rashid will now enjoy an extended run, and he followed his 4-114 from 31 overs in the first innings with 3-64 from 14.3 overs as England troubled India on the final day.

“Turning wickets were probably his last challenge”.

And Cook believes brilliant new opener Hameed and all-rounder Ben Stokes can be key to a famous series win.

But the identity of India’s third spinner – if indeed there is to be one – is more intriguing.

The middle-order looked wobbly the moment Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane have a failure with the bat as they have to bat deep with Virat Kohli at centre to give their spinners enough cushion on the scoreboard.

“Yes, I’ve sacrificed a bit to come out here”, he admitted.

“Pressure is most when you are trying to save a match”. “You can spend time in the gym, but you never know if your body is fully healed until you play a few games”.

An opening draw was not his preferred reward, of course.

Opener Murali Vijay did a fine job with the bat in the first Test.

Whatever the requirements, England may not be surprised to hear the conditions of Rajkot are unlikely to prevail elsewhere. Woakes is the one we’re looking at because of the amount of overs he’s bowled.

This first Test in Rajkot was the best I’ve seen him bowl, and a good leg-spinner is a massive asset in world cricket.