Kohli insists India "will not take a backward step" as dramatic Test series continues

Emotions are high in the lead-up to the third Test, with both Indian captain Virat Kohli and England stalwart James Anderson weighing in on the fierce second Test encounter at Lord’s.

After tempers flared between Anderson and the Indian team earlier in the Test, Kohli’s bowlers ripped through England’s batting line-up on day five at the home of cricket to win by 151 runs.

Kohli briefly reflected on the events of the second Test, though insisted the emotions of battling at the highest level are best-channeled into overcoming an opponent.

“What is said on the field and what’s done in the moment, gives you extra motivation, as I said after the game, to get together as a team even more strongly. There is absolute clarity in what you need to do.

“It’s what you do after that situation, or how you get up from that situation, that matters.”

Anderson’s resoluteness with the bat was shown late on day three, withstanding a barrage of quick bowling led by Indian spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Wearing a number of blows while supporting captain Joe Root at the other end, Anderson admits tensions boiled over in the middle while expressing his views to the opposition skipper.

“The emotion got the better of me and I felt I had to say something. I felt bad for doing that because it drew attention away from Rooty (Joe Root) celebrating an amazing innings as he came off the field,” Anderson said.

Kohli and Anderson were cleared of wrongdoing during the exchange, though Anderson stresses the need to focus on the task of winning key individual battles on the field.

“When you come across someone as animated as Virat on the field, he can rub people up the wrong way. It is one of those things.

“It is just a case of trying to put a real focus on the cricket rather than the noise that comes with it.”

“We have to remember Virat is averaging 20 in the series, proving we have bowled well at a great player - but I would rather he was averaging 80 and we were 1-0 up.”

Kohli by contrast insists his team won’t be shying away come the resumption of the series.

“It just showed this team is not going to back down and take a backward step when provoked.

“We play together, we play to win and we don’t let anyone or any opposition just take us lightly.

“We know and they know that we are always going to compete and find ways to win games of cricket.”