ENG vs IND: England Injury Crisis Of No Concern To Virat Kohli

Cricket Image for ENG vs IND: England Injury Crisis Of No Concern To Virat Kohli (Image Source: Google)

India captain Virat Kohli has dismissed talk that England's injury crisis has bolstered his side's hopes of victory in the third Test as they "don't wait for the opposition to be weak".

Kohli's men head into Wednesday's clash at Headingley 1-0 up in a five-match series after a superb 151 run-win in the second Test at Lord's. England, already without injured quicks Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer, Olly Stone and star all-rounder Ben Stokes, were dealt a fresh blow this week when express fast bowler Mark Wood was ruled out of the third Test with a shoulder injury suffered while fielding at Lord's.

But Kohli, looking to lead India to just their fourth series win in England, bristled at suggestions his side -- who were injury hit themselves when winning in Australia earlier this year -- told a pre-match press conference on Tuesday: "Even when the key players are playing we think we can beat anyone in the world -- we don't wait for the opposition to be weak.

"I don't think that is the right question to ask a team that's been playing such good cricket over the last so many years, that we depend on the teams in front of us being weak to have an opportunity to win a series. That's not how we play and how we approach every series."

England, in a match where there were plenty of verbal sparks, were well-placed heading into the final day at Lord's only for India's Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah to add an unbroken 89 for the ninth wicket, with the hosts too often bowling short in what appeared to be an attempt to exact revenge for the treatment tailender James Anderson received when he was batting.

India's quicks then combined to dismiss England, set 272 to win in 60 overs, for just 120. "It just showed this team is not going to back down and take a backward step when provoked," said star batsman Kohli of his World Test Championship finalists.

Read More