NEW DELHI: Decrying a “meek surrender” and “heartbreak” defeat, Indiannewspapers said on Monday that Virat Kohli’s world number one Test side hadonly themselves to blame for their series defeat in England.
“The cherished dream of staging one of the greatest comebacks in moderncricket history could so easily have been fulfilled but some spinelessbatting saw Kohli’s men crashing to another series loss away from home,”the mass-circulation Times of India wrote.
Mail Today bemoaned India’s “meek surrender” and the Times of India said itwas a heartbreak that will not be easy to deal with.
Kohli’s side needed 245 to win the fourth Test in Southampton but they werebundled out for 184 after tea Sunday, giving the hosts a 3-1 lead with onematch left to play.
Earlier this year India lost 2-1 in South Africa.
India faltered with the bat in both the innings against England, triggeringquestions about their temperament and technique.
The Indian Express headlined its story: “Almost, but not good enough” andsaid the loss should both hurt and teach.
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“They have a band of men that comes close but falters, can’t cross over,”the English-language daily said.
The papers concurred with Kohli that challenging rivals is not enough andthat India must find ways to win close matches.
The Hindustan Times said the bowlers had given momentum to India’s push foroverseas success but the “batsmen haven’t stood up, leaving far too much tothe class and consistency of skipper Virat Kohli”.
Kohli has been the leading batsman in the five-Test series with his tallyof 544 runs at an average of 68, including two hundreds. – APP/AFP
