The escalators at St John's Wood tube station outside Lord's are bound on either side by Virat Kohli posters. Such is the Indian captain's status here. He is the ambassador even in the enemy's territory. On the cricketing field, his stature is the same, especially after he nearly single-handedly scripted a famous victory in the first Test.

Now, at the erstwhile home of cricket, Kohli needs his top order batsmen to lift their game. It can no longer be a one-man show. Even from observing the practice nets yesterday, it is evident that Kohli is in a completely different state of mind. Everything he hits seems to be crisp and there is so much decisiveness in his footwork.