ENG vs IND 2021: Virat Kohli is world-class, our bowlers deserve credit for keeping him quiet – Joe Root

England captain Joe Root has stated that Virat Kohli is a world-class batsman and his bowlers deserve a lot of credit for keeping him quiet in the ongoing series.

Kohli has thus far scored 124 runs in three Test matches at an average of 24.80 and he hasn’t been at his best.

Kohli has been troubled outside the off-stump by the England fast bowlers as the Indian captain has been dismissed while trying to meddle with the fifth-stump line deliveries.

James Anderson and Ollie Robinson have dismissed Kohli twice in the Test series whereas Sam Curran has got rid of the Indian captain on one occasion.

All of Kohli’s dismissal has been on the fifth-stump line as the talisman hasn’t shown enough patience in his approach. Kohli was at his best in the previous tour of England as he scored 593 runs in five Test matches but he hasn’t been able to repeat the same success.

“The credit has to go to our bowlers. Virat is world-class, there is no doubt about that, which is why I think the bowlers should get credit. They have been able to keep him quiet,” said Root in an interaction with the media ahead of the fourth Test which starts on Thursday at the Oval.

“To keep a player like that quiet is a great effort from the bowling group and something we have to continue to do if we want to win the series. We have to keep finding ways to get him out and keep the pressure up. He is obviously a fine player who has done tremendous things in Test cricket. Hopefully, that relentlessness is something we can keep up moving forward,” said Root.

Kohli had looked in good form in the second innings of the Leeds Test as he scored 55 runs but couldn’t convert his score into a substantial one. The right-hander will need to deliver with the bat in the last two Test matches if India is to make a comeback in the series.

On the other hand, England fast bowlers will aim to continue their domination against Virat Kohli. The fourth Test will be played at the Oval from Thursday.