India vs England 2021: ‘Winning the first game is very pleasing,’ reckons England skipper after winning the first Test

It seems like England have been addicted to winning! After winning the series 2-0 and lifting the Moose Trophy in Sri Lanka, the three lions notched a 227 run victory in the first Test played against India in Chennai.

Right from winning the toss to batting to bowling coupled with the vigilant fielding, England never lost sight of the match.

After a riveting performance with the bat after winning the toss, their dominance came to the occasion, which was then carried forward by their bowlers who troubled the Indian side.

They did tumble in their second innings, but the leak was soon coped up by their bowlers again who toppled Team India for 192, notching a comprehensive 227 run victory.

Joe Root feels Toss was crucial

Talking of the win, Joe Root said in the post-match presentation, “Crucial toss but from that point, we had to follow through and make the most of a very good wicket. We did that very well. To take 20 wickets in alien conditions is a brilliant job from the bowlers. Knew from the outset it was going to be a good wicket. The first partnership got us going. Different stages guys came in and contributed. That’s got to be the way – if we’re going to win out here someone has to do that. Fortunately, it was me this week. We know that India are going to come back hard at us. The idea was to get to 400. Didn’t quite materialize like that.”

“I knew the wicket had changed drastically and knew it was going to change again. Wanted to take India’s win out of the equation. As a bowling group, we didn’t want to worry about the run rate. Standing here, having won the first game is very pleasing. The way he (Anderson) goes about things, challenging himself constantly and getting better all the time even at 38. He’s a great role model to the rest of the group. His skill level is right up there with anyone we’ve ever seen,” the 30-year-old further said.

Root also stated that it was their awareness of Rishabh Pant‘s abilities that led them to choose not to declare their innings. “Rishabh Pant bats for one session and he can make things quite interesting. I did not want the pressure of having to contain and as well as take wickets. I wanted to make sure that the bowlers were concentrating on the ways of finding the wickets on that surface. We were always going to create ten chances, we just had to be disciplined and take the chances that came our way. We could have declared earlier, I am just glad how it has turned out,” Root said.

Root, who played his 100th Test made it immensely memorable as he scored a double hundred besides getting his Team a glorious win overseas. England skipper was also adjudged as the man-of-the-match for his lion-hearted innings.

Also read: India vs England 2021: Watch James Anderson’s wicket-rustling in-swingers against India