SPORTS

Virat Kohli was a proud captain and had a massive smile on his face as India registered a historic Test win against England at Lord's on Monday to take a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series.

Kohli said the tension on the field motivated his players to push for a win at all costs and that is exactly what they did as a charged up Indian team beat England by 151 runs after bowling out the hosts for 120 in just 51.5 overs on the final day.

There was constant sledging throughout the day from the likes of Kohli, James Anderson, Mohammed Siraj, Jos Buttler and Jasprit Bumrah which heated up the atmosphere at the Home of Cricket.

England's Mark Wood and Moeen Ali struck late on against India at Lord's on Sunday to leave the second Test intriguingly poised heading into the last day. The tourists were 181-6 in their second innings, a lead of 154 runs, when bad light forced an early close. The start of a fourth day of fluctuating fortunes had seen Wood remove the in-form KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma. And the visitors were in even greater trouble at 55-3 when Sam Curran captured the prize wicket of India captain Virat Kohli.

Cheteshwar Pujara (45) and Ajinkya Rahane (61), both of whom had previously struggled for runs this series, checked England's progress albeit it took them 59 overs to add exactly 100 for the fourth wicket.

England posed a stronger challenge for India on Day 2 of the second Test at the Lord's with Joe Root leading from the front once again. England bowled out India for 364 in their first innings before replying with 119 for 3 by the end of the play.

Joe Root remained unbeaten on 48 with Jonny Bairstow for the company on 6 not out with the hosts still 245 runs behind the visitors.

Root and Rory Burns added 85 runs for the third wicket which brought England back in the match after Mohammed Siraj got rid of opener Dom Sibley and young Haseeb Hameed off successive balls in the first over after the tea break.

Burns was dismissed in the final half-hour of the last session by Mohammed Shami for 49.

After a rain washout in the opening Test, Virat Kohli-led India will now be praying for the rain Gods to stay away from the Home of Cricket at Lord’s, London when playing against Joe Root’s England in the second Test. The good news is that the weather forecast seems to be pleasant for the second Test with chances of sunshine throughout five days. There could be partial cloud cover on all days and a heavy shower on Sunday or Day 4.

India started off their second Test against England in the ongoing five-match series on a positive note by ending the first day on 276/3 in their first innings at Lord’s, London. The first Test was drawn.

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday confirmed that seamer Shardul Thakur will miss the second Test against England at Lord's with a hamstring injury but "should be okay for the 3rd match".

Shardul Thakur played in important part in the drawn first Test where he picked 4 wickets but his absence now might open the door for off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's selection in the Indian XI at Lord's.

Kohli explained the nature of Thakur's left-hamstring injury during a press conference on the eve of the second Test in London.