India’s former Test captain Virat Kohli revealed the genius tactic behind the famous Lord’s win against England in 2021. In a viral interview clip that is doing the rounds on X (formerly Twitter), Kohli shared insight on how he kept extending the declaration despite the reluctance from the team management. With head coach Ravi Shastri in attendance, the former skipper highlighted the importance of the element of surprise and why he made India return to bat after lunch on the fifth and final day of one of the most fascinating Tests in modern history.
The 37-year-old said that he kept asking the bowling coach about the number of overs left for England batters to face and how his epic ’60 over of hell’ talk to the team came into being, which remains
etched in the memories of Test fans in the country.
‘I Am Not Going To Declare…’
“So they’re batting, we have enough runs on the board, and they are all like, declare now. I’m not going to declare now. I want to wait,” Kohli said in the interview. “I kept asking the bowling coach, ‘How many overs will we get?'”
He revealed that he had a number in mind and added that he was urged to declare 20 minutes before lunch and put England batters on the crease. He repeatedly declined the proposal. He added that India played those 20 minutes and returned to the hut for lunch. “So we come to lunch, and they’re like, declare now, like straight after lunch, I was like no.”
It Was Intentional
The captain with the most successful Test record for India said it was intentional to bring English players to the field. Had he declared ahead of the second session, England would have had 40 minutes of leisure during the lunch break, giving them rest and the focus to chase. He did not want them to be at ease.
“So I intentionally… I wanted us to go back for one over because when you get rest for 40 minutes, and you pad on, and you go, the focus is different. You know, as a batsman, you get 40 minutes, you relax this, that.”
He made English players take the field for 9 deliveries after lunch before finally declaring. These two overs not only made England quickly return to the dressing room to change and pad up, but also denied them the breather they would have otherwise gotten had the former Indian skipper asked them to bat straight after lunch.
“I said let them go, one over they played, second over, 4 edged. Everyone is looking at the ball. That’s when I called them in. I want them to run for ten minutes, change quickly and come back. Your heart rate’s up already as a batsman, and then you are like, now we have to survive,” Kohli added.
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He added that those 10 minutes of India’s batting denied England’s openers the composure. The surprise declaration was deliberate to catch the opponents off guard.
“I am going to declare when they don’t want to go in and rush and change,” he concluded.
Kohli on declaring late in that famous "60 overs of hell" pic.twitter.com/G38M2V0GyX
— Abhy (@AbhyVerse) June 3, 2026
The Incoming Epic ’60 Overs of Hell’ Speech
Kohli gave his bowlers 60 overs to give England hell. And that is what they proceeded to do.
“We get them out or not, but we need to make these 60 overs feel like hell for England batters. If I see anyone laughing in front of their players, see what happens. Got it? Sixty overs should feel like hell out there,” former captain Kohli said in the pre-innings huddle.
This speech occasionally resurfaces in fan edits on Instagram, reminding us how India dominated England in their backyard.
The Perfect Setup
India had concluded Day 4 with 181 for 6, and from the looks of it, the hosts would have no more than 200 to chase on the last day. But Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah decided to frustrate Joe Root’s men as they put up a masterclass in counterattacking. A partnership of of 89 for the ninth wicket put India in a strong position, and when Kohli finally brought England on the field, they had 272 to chase in 60 overs.
Those 2 overs of batting after lunch worked. English openers were visibly jittery and appeared rattled by the pace attack India subjected them to.
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England lost both their openers for ducks inside the first two overs. Only three English batters managed to reach double-digit scores in the fourth innings.
With less than 10 overs left in the Test, England found themselves struggling at 120 for 7. That scorecard soon turned 120 for 8. Then 120 for 9. And finally, 120 all out. India produced a famous 151-run victory at the iconic venue. Siraj and Bumrah starred with the ball.
Kohli, as always, rejoiced animatedly.
