Ravi Shastri recalls Virat Kohli's famous 'unleash hell' episode at Lord’s: ‘I knew then and there...'

Ravi Shastri recalls Virat Kohli's famous 'unleash hell' episode at Lord’s

The Indian team has achieved notable Test triumphs abroad during the last several years. And former India coach now commentator Ravi Shastri recalled India's spectacular 151-run victory over England at Lord's in 2022, which falls under the same category.

On the last day of the Test, India were in trouble at 181/6 and leading by 155 runs. Shastri, who was the coach then, disclosed that they had already made their mind up that anything in the range of 170-180 would be competitive target. But then Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah registered a fantastic partnership, with the former slamming an undefeated half-century to help India declare at 298/8.

Then India captain Virat Kohli delivered one of the most iconic moment of his illustrious Test career. While conducting the team huddle, he pumped his teammates to "unleash hell" and ultimately England were bowled out for 120.

Shastri talked extensively about the moment with ex-England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain.

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“We had a chat in the morning (Day 5) and all we said (was) ‘try and get England to chase 170 and we are winning this’. We were not thinking about how much we will score in the end; just give them 170-180, and we can win this game,” Shastri began.

"We had an excellent attack. Bumrah, Siraj, Ishant Sharma... we had a good attack. (Then) it was the last wicket partnership… England favourites. I picked the Times and Michael Atherton says, 'England are favourites!'

“I'm reading all of this in the bus. We reached here, and the partnership adds about 100 (89 runs). That lifted the dressing room. It was Covid times, so the long room was empty. No members (were) allowed, so when the two players came back, the whole team stood there and made a corridor for them to welcome back. I knew then and there, Kohli is going to tell them something once they go out for the huddle. That's when he said, 'unleash hell!'”

Three years after the historic triumph at the venue, India led by Shubman Gill is engaged in a Test at Lord's without its stalwarts - Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - who announced their retirements right before the tour. The Indian team is upbeat after defeating England by an overwhelming 336 runs in the second Test at Edgbaston to level the five-match series 1-1.