ENG vs IND: Joe Root lauds bowlers for keeping Virat Kohli quiet

England skipper Joe Root was effusive in praise of his bowlers, who have so far managed to keep India skipper Virat Kohli quiet in the ongoing five-match Test series. The 32-year-old has scored just 124 runs in three Tests at a modest average of 24.80, with just one 50+ score. Kohli’s age-old problem of poking at the wide deliveries has brought his downfall.

His archival James Anderson has got him out two times, which was a stark contrast to the 2018 series, where he scored a humongous 593 runs and never got out to Anderson. Root thoroughly feels the bowlers should be credited for keeping Kohli relatively quiet in the three Tests so far.

"The credit has to go to our bowlers. Virat is world-class, there is no doubt about that, which is why I think the bowlers should get credit. They have been able to keep him quiet," said Root in an interaction with the media ahead of the fourth Test, which starts on Thursday at the Oval.

"To keep a player like that quiet is a great effort from the bowling group and something we have to continue to do if we want to win the series. We have to keep finding ways to get him out and keep the pressure up. He is obviously a fine player who has done tremendous things in Test cricket. Hopefully, that relentlessness is something we can keep up moving forward," said Root.

England bounced back in style in the Leeds Test and managed to level the series 1-1. Head coach Chris Silverwood hinted at the possibility of resting their premier bowler Anderson for the fourth Test. Meanwhile, Chris Woakes is deemed fit and is available for selection.