India vs England: Kohli says first Test’s team “template” for remainder of series

India
vs
England:
Rain
takes
away
from
India
a
shot
at
victory
in
series-opener,
match
ends
in
draw

So
it
will
be
a
toss-up
between
Ravindra
Jadeja
and
Ravichandran
Ashwin
in
the
upcoming
four
matches,
with
the
former
preferred
for
the
first
Test
in
which
India
were
deprived
of
a
victory
owing
to
persistent
rain
that
washed
out
the
entire
fifth
day’s
play.

“We
were
expecting
rain
on
days
three
and
four
but
it
chose
to
come
on
day
five.
It
would
have
been
enjoyable
to
play
and
watch,
but
it’s
a
shame,”
Kohli
said
after
the
match.

“This
is
exactly
what
we
wanted
to
do;
start
strong.
On
day
five
we
knew
we
had
our
chances.
We
certainly
felt
like
we
were
on
top
of
the
game.”

India
needed
to
score
157
runs
on
the
final
day
but
the
rain
did
not
allow
a
single
ball
to
be
bowled.

“Getting
that
lead
was
crucial,
but
it’s
a
shame
we
couldn’t
finish
day
five.
Getting
to
fifty
overnight
was
important.
We
just
didn’t
want
to
play
for
survival.
Our
intent
kept
us
ahead.
It’s
hard
work
of
three
odd
weeks
for
our
bowlers
with
the
bat.”

Kohli
added,
“We
were
talking
of
a
lead
of
40-odd
but
we
ended
up
with
95
and
those
runs
were
gold
dust.”

“Most
likely
this
will
be
our
template
in
this
series,
but
adaptability
has
been
our
strength.
The
conditions
and
the
pace
on
the
wicket
needs
to
be
seen,
but
this
team
will
be
our
template.
England
and
India
have
always
been
a
blockbuster,
and
looking
forward
to
the
next
Test.”

As
part
of
the
new
World
Test
Championship
cycle,
both
India
and
England
logged
home
four
points
each.
Only
250
plus
overs
out
of
a
maximum
450
were
possible
due
to
the
inclement
weather.

India,
chasing
a
target
of
209,
were
well-placed
at
52
for
one
in
14
overs
at
the
end
of
fourth
day.
Though
India
had
their
nose
ahead,
English
skipper
Joe
Root
said
rain
marred
“what
would
have
been
a
very
interesting
final
day”.

“Great
Test
match
to
play
in
and
watch
as
well.
Sets
up
the
series
really
well
and
hopefully
we
can
take
it
into
the
next
games.
We
certainly
believed
we
could
win.
We
knew
we
would
have
opportunities
if
we
took
our
catches
and
kept
our
fields.

“It’s
a
shame
it
ended
this
way.
There
are
certain
areas
where
we
want
to
get
better
in.
We
want
to
get
better
at
the
top
of
the
order
and
take
our
catches.
We
need
strong
characters.
We
want
to
keep
that
enthusiasm
in,
it
is
fun
scoring
runs
and
a
fun
game.”

It
would
have
taken
an
incredible
bowling
effort
from
England
to
stop
India
from
scoring
209
runs
despite
the
overcast
conditions.
Root
added,
“Really
relishing
the
opportunities
in
front
of
us.
We
have
to
deal
with
till
the
schedule
changes
and
the
setup
changes.
The
experienced
guys
have
it
easier
going
from
white
ball
to
Test
cricket,
but
the
younger
guys
might
not
have
that
experience.
It
must
be
quite
challenging
for
our
youngsters,
but
that’s
no
excuse.”

About
his
hundred
in
the
second
innings,
he
said,
“To
finally
get
to
my
century
was
a
relief
given
how
I
played
throughout
the
day.
I
think
India
have
a
very
good
seam
attack
and
credit
to
them
for
the
way
they
bowled.

“I
just
wanted
to
put
the
pressure
back
on
them
with
a
few
shots.
Certainly
feel
full
of
confidence
on
the
back
of
that.”