Virat Kohli and James Anderson have traded tit for tat off field accusations ahead of the third Test ensuring it will be another spiky affair.
Kohli has warned England that there will be lots more aggressive cricket if they provoke his side the same way they did in the second Test.
And after winning the match by 151, the India skipper is confident that more of the same would only serve to fire up his side to yet more glory at Headingley.
However Anderson reckons the problems began with Jasprit Bumrah’s ‘intimidatory’ bowling tactics at him late on Saturday evening that eventually saw him lose his cool as the players walked off.
In his Daily Telegraph column Anderson writes: “Normally he bowls quite a lot on the stumps, even at tailenders, because he has a really good yorker. There were a couple of full balls but it felt like a ploy, they were trying to intimidate me.
“I was angry at the end. 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 celebrating an amazing innings as he came off the field. I apologised to him afterwards for that but the emotion got the better of me. It happens sometimes.”
The problem for England is that the Indians were inspired by the flashpoint and made it pay with runs for their tailenders and wickets for their bowlers to win the game.
“The second Test we approached with the same kind of intensity and the will to win,” said Kohli. “And it was very satisfying after what had transpired the morning of day five.
“And it just showed this team is not going to back down and take a backward step when provoked.
“I cannot give you the details of the words that were spoken, I think it's for the cameras and the stump mics to pick that up for both teams equally, and then be analysed.
“What is said on the field and what's done in the moment, gives you extra motivation, to get together as a team even more strongly.
“We play together, we play to win and we don't let anyone or any opposition just take us lightly.”
