England v India: Virat Kohli says hosts 'provoked' his side at Lord's

Virat Kohli said India's tailenders were inspired by criticism from commentators before the final day at Lord's

Captain Virat Kohli says his India team were "provoked" by England in the second Test - and will "not take a backwards step" when they meet again at Emerald Headingley on Wednesday.

"This team is not going to back down," said Kohli.

"What's said on the field and what's done in the moment gives you extra motivation."

Kohli did not reveal what provoked him or his players, but there were several confrontations during a thrilling match that went into the final hour.

India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah targeted England number 11 James Anderson with a series of bouncers on the third evening, and England responded to Bumrah and fellow tailender Mohammed Shami in similar fashion on the fifth morning during a spell which arguably cost them the match.

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Kohli was also involved in a verbal exchange with Jos Buttler as England were bowled out for 120 on the final day, failing to bat out two sessions to secure a draw.

"The details don't need to be discussed," said Kohli, whose side lead 1-0 in the five-match series.

"It happens in the moment. It's how you get up from that situation, that's what matters."

Bumrah bowled four no-balls in an over to Anderson in the first innings, hitting him on the helmet with one of several bouncers.

"I felt like he wasn't trying to get me out. I've not felt this ever in my career," Anderson, England's all-time leading wicket-taker, told the BBC's Tailenders podcast.

"They are a passionate side. They use emotion differently to how we use it. They channel it well - we saw that on the last day."

Malan eager to prove people wrong

England recalled batter Dawid Malan for Headingley - an opportunity he did not expect after playing the most recent of his 15 Tests in 2018.

He is set to bat at number three, with Haseeb Hameed - who returned to the team in that spot at Lord's - likely to open after Dom Sibley was dropped.

"Realistically, did I think it would happen? Probably not," said 33-year-old Malan, who averages 27.84 and has one century - against Australia in Perth - and six fifties from 26 Test innings.

"Sometimes you say the right things but don't believe it will happen.

"When you come back you're hungry. You want to score runs. You want to prove people wrong. You want to prove yourself wrong, that you can actually play at this level for an extended period of time.

"I know I can play Test cricket. This is a fantastic opportunity, an unbelievable opportunity to get another crack at it."

Who will replace injured Wood?

One of Craig Overton and Saqib Mahmood are expected to replace pace bowler Mark Wood, who will play no part at Headingley because of a shoulder injury sustained while fielding at Lord's.

Somerset seamer Overton has taken nine wickets at 44.77 in four Tests, the most recent of which was in 2019.

Lancashire's Mahmood has never played a Test, but was man of the series in England's 3-0 one-day series win over Pakistan in July after taking nine wickets at 13.66 apiece.

India may recall off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has 413 Test wickets but was overlooked for the first two Tests.

"We're quite surprised to see the pitch," said Kohli. "I thought there'll be more grass and it will be more spicy and lively."

England (from): Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson.

India (from): Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav.

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