Virat Kohli scored his maiden ton in England in the 1st Test at Birmingham
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said other batsmen need to take more responsibility for India to win the first Test against England in Birmingham.
Speaking to IndiaTV from Birmingham, Ganguly lauded captain Virat Kohli after he struck his maiden hundred on English soil on the second day of the ongoing first Test against England at Edgbaston Cricket Ground.
Kohli delivered a batting exhibition in a brilliant innings of 149 to keep India in the hunt. The India captain made England pay dearly for dropped catches when on 21 and 51, blazing to his 22nd Test century - and first in England - to end a sorry run of scores on English soil.
Kohli was given a standing ovation around Edgbaston, with England fans also showing their appreciation of one of cricket's box-office talents. Thanks to Kohli, India reached 274 — in response to England's first innings total of 287.
"Kohli's innings of 149 has kept India in the hunt in Birmingham. He not only scored a ton but also helped India reduce the deficit to just 13 runs. Virat has kept India alive in the game. Lot of responsibility will again be there on Virat but other batsmen too need to make runs," Ganguly, who is IndiaTV's Cricket Expert, said during "Aaj Ki Baat" show.
Meanwhile, if day two belonged to Kohli, the India bowlers, led by Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, stole the thunder on the third day. India bowled out England for 180 in their second innings on day three to set themselves a 194-run target to win.
Pacer Ishant took five wickets and off-spinner Ashwin three as England added 171 runs to their overnight score of nine for one.
If India manage to overhaul the target, it will be their only seventh Test win on the England soil.
Ganguly lauded the bowlers, saying: "Indian bowlers also played a major role on day three and took the team to a good position where they can now win the match."
"There are seven left-handers in the England team and that is why R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma has caused problems for them. When Ishant bowls over the wicket, he creates problems for left-handers.
"Probably, this is the first time I have seen Ashwin bowl so well in England. He has got a lot of variations in his bowling," Ganguly added.
