'Senior players need to take more responsibility if India are to make a comeback' - Salman Butt

The England-India Test series has been an intriguing contest so far. India registered a thrilling victory at Lords to take a lead in the series. The hosts bounced back in the third Test to secure a dominating victory by an innings and 76 runs. However, batters from both teams have struggled in the series. Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt  feels  the Indian batters, especially Virat Kohli need to play big knocks to get into a positive frame of mind.

Virat Kohli has been struggling with a lean patch lately. The middle order of the side has been unable to hold fort for the team which has resulted in the batting collapses. Butt asserted that experienced players of the side have to come good if India are to win the series.

“India have to pull up their socks. Their experienced players are due for big knocks. On this tour, they haven’t done it so far. Unless that happens, India won’t be in a comfort zone. It will be important for Virat Kohli to score a big hundred. Rahane and Pujara have got the occasional scores but they haven’t played a big knock as such," Butt said as reported by HT.

The England bowlers have constantly targeted the off-stump to get the prized wicket of captain Kohli. They have displayed immense patience by bowling tight lines and lengths and have got him caught behind in each of the five innings he has played. Opening up on Kohli’s struggle in England, Butt said the India skipper is lacking concentration.

“When he was in form, Kohli was scoring hundred after hundred. Yes, his off-time has extended longer than expected but he has been aggressive as always. Kohli is looking good but somewhere he is lacking in concentration, which is why he is chasing at those balls outside off stump. It is not the case with Kohli usually. He has excellent concentration levels but in this series, he has been dismissed in similar fashion every time.