How India got under Englands skin to script memorable Lords Test win

A high-tempo Test match between India and England witnessed a thrilling finish, Mohammed Siraj knocking off James Anderson, rushing off, picking up one of the stumps and dancing all around the Home of Cricket – Lord’s. Led by Virat Kohli, India, on Monday, defeated the English by 151 runs, a win that will be cherished for a long time. 

However, there is more than just a win and a series lead to celebrate. The Indians, on several instances, were seen sledge hammering their opponents. Whenever England hit India with swears and sledges, Virat Kohli and company responded aggressively. 

Also read: Determination, despair, drama: Everything that defined India’s epic Lord’s victory

1) Corks coming back at you:

The spectators at Lord’s, during the home team’s first innings, threw champagne bottle corks at India’s opening batsman KL Rahul. The 29-year-old was fielding at the boundary. However, Virat Kohli did not let Rahul just bear the hostility of the British. The skipper signaled him to throw the corks back into the stand.

2) Mohammed Siraj’s death stare:

Thirty-eight overs into England’s second innings, Joe Root and company were seven wickets down. With Ollie Robinson on strike, Siraj bowled a bouncer that the batsmen missed. What followed was the pacer going up to Robinson and giving him a plain death stare. 

Mohammed Siraj after dismissing four batsmen in England’s first innings at Lord’s said his ‘fingers on lips’ celebration was a message to all his critics asking them to keep quiet.

Also read: Virat Kohli ‘super proud’ after India beat England in Lord’s Test

Siraj was also involved in what appeared to be a tense moment with England all-rounder Sam Curran on Day 4 of the first Test between the two teams at Trent Bridge. Curran had cracked a boundary off Siraj’s short ball that triggered the Hyderabad player to go up and mouth a few words. 

4) Bumrah bouncing Anderson, England losing the plot:

Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah unleashed a short-ball barrage at England’s No 11 batsman, premier pacer, James Anderson. The Indian bowler’s first ball hit Anderson on the head. Bumrah then targetted the ribs and the shoulder. That over (10 balls) lasted for 15 minutes. 

In return, England tried to hit Bumrah with a few short ones when he came out to bat. But the Baroda pacer, determined and unfazed, stayed at the crease long enough to add 89 runs with Mohammed Shami. The Indian tail, Bumrah and Shami’s partnership at No 9, took the game away from England. 

5) This isn’t your backyard: 

James Anderson, on Day 2, had sledged Jasprit Bumrah. However, in the next innings, when Kohli pointed out that the England pacer was running on the pitch, Anderson swore at him.

“You swearing at me again are you? This isn’t your fu**ing backyard,” Kohli lashed out at Anderson. After the fifth ball, the Indian skipper continued to have a go at Anderson. “Chirp chirp chirp. This is what old age makes you,” Kohli said, hitting back at the pacer.