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“For 60 Overs, They Should Feel Hell”: When Virat Kohli Fired Up India For A Famous Lord’s Win

Jatin

Virat Kohli’s war cry fired up India [Source: @iamflickX18/x.com]Virat Kohli’s war cry fired up India [Source: @iamflickX18/x.com]

The stage is set at Headingley as England headed into Day 5 with 350 runs needed to pull off the kind of heist that would go straight into Bazball legend. India’s bowling unit is fresh, fired up, and hunting for 10 wickets to seal the deal.

Virat Kohli’s Lord’s Huddle Speech Still Echoes As India Eyes Headingley Glory

And while all eyes are locked on Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, you can’t help but go back a few years; back to when Virat Kohli led a war-ready Indian unit into the lion’s den at Lord’s and walked out with one of the most iconic overseas Test wins in Indian cricket history.

That game in 2021 was about grit, venom and a captain who didn’t blink when the heat got turned up. The series had kicked off with a rain-washed draw in Nottingham and the caravan rolled into Lord’s.

England, banking on overcast skies, asked India to bat first. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul silenced the chatter with a clinical 126-run opening stand. Rohit missed a ton by 17 runs, falling to a peach from James Anderson but Rahul stood tall with a stunning 129. India posted 364.

England’s reply came courtesy of Joe Root, who dropped anchor and scored a classy unbeaten 180. Despite wickets falling at the other end, Root’s knock dragged England to 391, a 27-run lead that felt bigger than it looked.

But that wasn’t the highlight. The real spark came late in England’s innings when Jasprit Bumrah dished out a 10-ball bumper barrage to James Anderson. It was hostile, aggressive and personal. Anderson was rattled. Kohli was fired up. And the fire didn’t die down.

India's second dig was wobbly from the get-go. 55/3 became 155/3 thanks to a Pujara-Rahane rescue act. But once they fell, the wheels came off. At 209/8, England had their noses in front. Then came the twist no one saw coming.

Bumrah and Shami turned the script on its head. Shami smashed a counterattacking fifty. Bumrah hung tough, scored a gritty 34 and together they stitched a stunning 89-run stand. India declared at 298/8 and left England chasing 272 on the final day.

Virat’s War Cry Before The Final Act

And then came the moment that changed everything. In the huddle before England’s chase, Virat Kohli dropped a quote that’s now etched into Indian cricket history:

“Agar koi mujhe hasta hua dikha na to samajh lena! For 60 overs, they should feel hell out there.”

That wasn’t just talk. India came out breathing fire. Joe Burns gone in the first over. Dom Sibley in the next. Hameed, Bairstow, Root, all gone before England could blink. Moeen and Curran followed. It was 90/7 and the game was as good as over.

Jos Buttler and Robinson tried to stall the inevitable but Bumrah and Siraj weren’t letting go. Robinson fell to a clever slower one. Buttler edged behind. And fittingly, Anderson, who copped all that heat earlier was bowled by Siraj to seal a 151-run win.

Kohli’s Roar That Shook Lord’s

Kohli’s celebration that day? Pure, unfiltered madness. Fist pumps, screams, sprinting across the outfield like a man possessed. That was a statement. From being 209/8 to winning by over 150 runs, India hadn’t just pulled off a heist, they had delivered a beatdown.

As the 2025 Headingley Test nears its conclusion, one can’t help but wonder: will Shubman Gill led India channel that same fire again? Because if history is any proof, when India brings the heat, England melts under pressure.