<p>A near 50-run haul by India's notoriously brittle batting tail in the first innings of the drawn opening test against England was like "gold dust", Indian captain Virat Kohli said.</p>.<p>Since 2018, India's last three batsmen have had the worst average of all test playing nations.</p>.<p>They made a significant contribution at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, however, where rain washed out the final day's play on Sunday and robbed the match of an exciting finish.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/if-40-overs-of-play-was-possible-we-could-have-created-chances-joe-root-1017643.html" target="_blank">If 40 overs of play was possible, we could have created chances: Joe Root </a></strong></p>.<p>A career-best 28 from Jasprit Bumrah, 13 from Mohammed Shami and seven not out by Mohammed Siraj helped the tourists to a vital 95-run first innings lead in a low-scoring contest.</p>.<p>"They've been in the nets regularly, wanting to contribute regularly, wanting to contribute to the team," Kohli said of the tailenders' batting exploits after the draw.</p>.<p>"Getting 50-plus runs from those three bowlers was like gold dust for us.</p>.<p>"We'd have been talking about a lead of 40-odd and then we got to a lead of 95 purely because of their efforts."</p>.<p>In comparison, England's last three batsmen twice made a combined 20 in the series opener.</p>.<p>"Just the grit and determination," Kohli said. "As opposition, when the bowlers get runs it can be annoying. They did a tremendous job with the bat."</p>.<p>With the tailenders giving a good account of themselves, India will be tempted to continue with the same bowling combination of four seamers and a pacer in the remaining four tests against Joe Root's side.</p>.<p>"This looks like the right template for us moving forward," Kohli said.</p>.<p>The second test is scheduled at Lord's from Thursday.</p>
<p>A near 50-run haul by India's notoriously brittle batting tail in the first innings of the drawn opening test against England was like "gold dust", Indian captain Virat Kohli said.</p>.<p>Since 2018, India's last three batsmen have had the worst average of all test playing nations.</p>.<p>They made a significant contribution at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, however, where rain washed out the final day's play on Sunday and robbed the match of an exciting finish.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/if-40-overs-of-play-was-possible-we-could-have-created-chances-joe-root-1017643.html" target="_blank">If 40 overs of play was possible, we could have created chances: Joe Root </a></strong></p>.<p>A career-best 28 from Jasprit Bumrah, 13 from Mohammed Shami and seven not out by Mohammed Siraj helped the tourists to a vital 95-run first innings lead in a low-scoring contest.</p>.<p>"They've been in the nets regularly, wanting to contribute regularly, wanting to contribute to the team," Kohli said of the tailenders' batting exploits after the draw.</p>.<p>"Getting 50-plus runs from those three bowlers was like gold dust for us.</p>.<p>"We'd have been talking about a lead of 40-odd and then we got to a lead of 95 purely because of their efforts."</p>.<p>In comparison, England's last three batsmen twice made a combined 20 in the series opener.</p>.<p>"Just the grit and determination," Kohli said. "As opposition, when the bowlers get runs it can be annoying. They did a tremendous job with the bat."</p>.<p>With the tailenders giving a good account of themselves, India will be tempted to continue with the same bowling combination of four seamers and a pacer in the remaining four tests against Joe Root's side.</p>.<p>"This looks like the right template for us moving forward," Kohli said.</p>.<p>The second test is scheduled at Lord's from Thursday.</p>