Kohli also credited debutant left-arm spinner Axar Patel and wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant for their performances. Axar took five wickets in the second innings, including that of England captain Joe Root, to lead India to victory on Tuesday. Root was one of the two batsmen that Axar dismissed in the first innings.
“It’s a special — a special moment for Axar. He’d have played the first game too if not for a niggle. He bowls fast and is all smiles and, hopefully, he builds it here from here on, have a strong couple of games going forward so that he can be in the mix to play Test cricket always,” said Kohli.
While Pant continued his good form with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 58 in India’s first innings, he was also impressive with the wicketkeeping gloves. He took two stunning catches on the third day and effected a sharp stumping of Dan Lawrence off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin on Day 4.
“Look, Pant has really worked hard in Australia and the difference when he moves with the…