Will first think about taking 20 wickets: Kohli

He talks about the factors involved in choosing Shardul’s replacement in the XI

India captain Virat Kohli said on Wednesday that Shardul Thakur’s injury-enforced absence will not force India “to plug in another guy who can give us some runs” in the second Test at Lord’s. The priority, he said, would be to field a combination that can take 20 wickets. “For us, it’s about finding that perfect balance,” Kohli said in a virtual media interaction. “But if someone like Shardul is not available, then we’ll definitely first think how to pick up 20 wickets ... and we’ll be very comfortable after how the first Test went.” Kohli said Shardul, preferred in the series-opener for his additional utility with the bat, “should be okay for the third Test” after suffering a “myofascial strain on his left hamstring”.