OTD: Down 2-0 in the series, Virat Kohli-led India bounced back strongly at The Oval against England

India bounced back in style after going down 2-0 in the Test series against England. On August 22, 2018, captained by Virat Kohli, India baffled England at The Oval.

Pritam Santra
Pritam Santra

2 mins read
279511.webp

India bounced back in style after going down 2-0 in the Test series against England. On August 22, 2018, captained by Virat Kohli, India baffled England at The Oval. Virat scored a century, Jasprit Bumrah took 5, and a pure team game from the visiting side decided the result of the match. Jos Buttler tried hard and batted brilliantly, but it was not enough to compete with a counter-attacking India. 

The match could have ended in a draw if the England cricket team had somehow been able to protect their wickets on the last day of the match. The firing of Jasprit Bumrah led the Indian bowling lineup to let down all of England's hope to save the match.

In the second innings of the game, while the home team was chasing a target of 521 runs, Bumrah claimed 5 wickets, and Ishant Sharma claimed a brace. A partnership between Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler came as the only barrier for Indian bowlers to overcome. After the 80th over of the innings, when India started to deliver with the new ball, Buttler was unable to stand against Bumrah. He departed for a well-made 106 off 176. Stokes went to the dugout 3 overs after Butter's dismissal.

Read More: Shivam Dube vs Shreyas Iyer: T20i stats comparison and career analysis

India dominated in both innings 

During England's first innings, Hardik Pandya was in full flow. Before Bumrah took 5, it was Pandya who pushed the host behind by taking 5 wickets. Two other pacers, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami, were also in effect at The Oval. Virat Kohli was selected as the best player of the match, as he batted brilliantly in both innings. In the first phase, he struck 97, and then in the second innings, the skipper of India scored 103 runs.

On their second innings, when the pitch looked slightly old, Indian batters performed more swiftly. Apart from Kohli's century, Cheteshwar Pujara and Hardik Pandya got their individual fifty-plus runs to help India set a target of 521, which was more than enough to outclass Joe Root-led England. 

Tags:

Follow us on

WATCH NOW

Shreyas Iyer IPL 2026

11 mins ago

Watch: Captain Shreyas Iyer entry as Rehman Dakait in dubai to represent PBKS in IPL 2026 auction

South Africa captain Aiden Markram took an excellent catch to dismiss Abhishek Sharma in the third T20I against India in Dharamsala on Sunday

11 hrs ago

Watch: Aiden Markram takes a brilliant running catch to dismiss dangerous-looking Abhishek Sharma in IND vs SA 2025 3rd T20I

Abhishek Sharma smashes Lungi Ngidi for first-ball six.

13 hrs ago

Watch: Abhishek Sharma smashes Lungi Ngidi for first-ball six during IND vs SA 3rd T20I

It is not my job to announce the winner

Rohit Sharma on being asked if England were rightly awarded the World Cup title in 2019