When Kohli's Instinctive Siraj Move Helped India Seal Special Lord's Win 

image-lqqcsph5When Kohli's inspired move helped Siraj seal the win (Twitter)

Virat Kohli's mighty successful tenure as India's Test captain spanning 2014 to 2021 was glint with multiple great overseas wins, of which, the former skipper is usually hailed more for the pathbreaking maiden Test series victory on Australian shores back in 2018-19. 

However, for the sheer theatrics and drama that mesmerized those watching, the memorable 2021 Lord's Test victory against England would go down as one of the finest moments of Kohli's fruitful stint at the helm of affairs.

Bringing his true character to the fore, Kohli played his part in firing up the much-vaunted Indian pace battery he had up his sleeves and inspired the nation to another marvellous triumph on foreign turf. 


Kohli's Inspired Move Helps Siraj Seal Lord's Win

Defending a stiff target of 271 on a surface offering pacers up and down bounce to go with late swing via the red Dukes ball, India scripted a win by a whopping 151-run margin and took a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series thanks to their spirited pacemen Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj. 

Kohli, who was always a leader who wore his heart on the sleeves and didn't shy away from making instinctive moves on the field, took another major punt towards the fag end of the England innings after the visitors reduced the hosts to 120 for 9. 

Having seen No.11 James Anderson defend the earlier deliveries of Siraj from over-the-wicket against the left-hander, Kohli standing in the slips asked his pacer to switch sides and aim for a delivery into the tailender's defensive prods. 

As it transpired, Siraj delivered a perfect ball which threatened to come in with the angle but then swung away at the last minute to disrupt Anderson's off-stump to complete a famous Lord's Test win for the country.

The move is not remembered as stuff of genius but once again reinforces Kohli's captaincy attributes, in that the Indian stalwart was forever willing to try out tricks and openminded enough to tweak his plans if they didn't serve him the desired results.