Virat Kohli urges India teammates to remain 'positive and fearless' after Ben Stokes bowls England to victory

Home team win at Edgbaston by 31 runs to take 1-0 lead in five-match series

England all-rounder Ben Stokes celebrates dismissing India captain Virat Kohli. Getty Images

Ben Stokes of England celebrates dismissing India captain Virat Kohli at Edgbaston. Getty Images

The umpire declares India captain Virat Kohli, centre, dismissed, as England's James Anderson, second left, hugs teammate Ben Stokes. AP Photo

England all-rounder Ben Stokes of celebrates with James Anderson after dismissing India captain Virat Kohli on Day 4 at Edgbaston. Getty Images

Ben Stokes of England celebrates with James Anderson and Joe Root after dismissing Mohammed Shami. Getty Images

India's tailender Mohammed Shami leaves the field after being dismissed on Day 4 at Edgbaston. AP Photo

England all-rounder Ben Stokes celebrates the wicket of India's Mohammed Shami. Reuters

England leg-spinner Adil Rashid celebrates the wicket of India's Ishant Sharma with teammates. Reuters

India fast bowler Ishant Sharma is given out LBW off the bowling of England leg-spinner Adil Rashid. Reuters

England's Adil Rashid celebrates the wicket of India's Ishant Sharma with his teammates. Reuters

England all-rounder Ben Stokes takes the final wicket of India all-rounder Hardik Pandya caught by Alastair Cook at Edgbaston. Getty Images

England's Ben Stokes celebrates after taking the final wicket of India's Hardik Pandya at Edgbaston. Getty Images

England's Ben Stokes celebrates after taking the final wicket of India's Hardik Pandya at Edgbaston. Reuters

England all-rounder Ben Stokes celebrates with Sam Curran and Stuart Broad after dismissing Hardik Pandya. Getty Images

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya walks from the field after being the last man out, after the game ends on Day 4 at Edgbaston. AFP

England captain Joe Root, right, shakes the hand of India all-rounder Hardik Pandya after the game. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes celebrates the wicket of India's Hardik Pandya with teammates. Reuters

England's Ben Stokes celebrates after taking the final wicket of India batsman Hardik Pandya. Getty Images

India captain Virat Kohli reacts at the end of the match, which the tourists lost by 31 runs. Reuters

England captain Joe Root chats with India counterpart Virat Kohli after Day 4 of the first Test at Edgbaston. Getty Images

Ben Stokes took three wickets on Saturday, including the prize one of India captain Virat Kohli, as England won the first Test by 31 runs in a thrilling finish at Edgbaston.

The all-rounder, who could miss next week's second Test of a five-match series at Lord's because of a court trial on a charge of affray starting on Monday, took two wickets in an over including that of Kohli.

Stokes ended the match, England's 1,000th Test, when he had Hardik Pandya (31) caught at first slip by Alastair Cook, with India bowled out for 162, having been set 194 to win.

Stokes finished with innings figures of 4-40 in 14.2 overs.

However, fellow England all-rounder Sam Curran was named man-of-the-match after starring with both bat and ball.

That England had a target of 194 to defend was largely down to the 20-year-old Curran's 63, his first Test fifty in just his second match at this level rescuing the hosts from the depths of 87-7.

Curran's innings came just a day after the Surrey left-arm swing bowler's Test-best haul of 4-74 during India's first innings of 274 that featured a brilliant 149 by Kohli - his first Test century in England.

An elated Stokes told Sky Sports: "Virat played a brilliant knock in the first innings but moments like that [getting him out] change games.

"I am proud to be part of his group. I thought we were a bit behind yesterday [on Friday] but for Sam Curran to play the way he did was a real turning point."

A stunned Curran added: "I can't take it all in, it is all very special."

For England captain Joe Root there was the relief of seeing his side win the first Test of a series after a run of three straight defeats in campaign openers against Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan.

"I am thrilled, it was a fantastic team performance," Root said. "I asked the guys to play with passion and show belief. If we did that, we would give ourselves a chance."

Meanwhile Kohli urged India to remain "positive and fearless" during the rest of the series.

"It was a great game of cricket and I was glad to be involved in such a fantastic Test match," Kohli said. "We showed character at times but England were relentless in the areas they hit.

"Our bowlers were outstanding in the second innings. Hopefully we will build on that. There is no hiding from this game. We have to play positive and fearless."

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Saturday's play started with the match on a knife edge.

India were 110-5 - still 84 runs shy of victory - with England needing five wickets.

Given the sunny conditions in Birmingham, the only certainty then was the match would finish with more than a day to spare.

Kohli was 43 not out and wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik unbeaten on 18.

England knew they needed early strikes and James Anderson, their all-time leading Test wicket-taker, duly obliged when he had Karthik (20) caught low down by Dawid Malan at second slip off just the sixth ball of the day.

It was a morale-boosting moment for Malan, who had dropped three slip catches this match, including flooring Kohli on 21 and 51 during the star batsman's first-innings century.

New batsman Pandya played several solid defensive shots before driving Stuart Broad down the ground for a textbook four.

Kohli then completed an 88-ball fifty when he glanced Anderson down to fine leg, the fourth four of his innings.

India were 141-6, needing 53 more runs to win, when paceman Stokes had Kohli lbw for 51 with just his third ball of the day.

Kohli reviewed but experienced Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar's decision was upheld.

Three balls later, Stokes had Mohammed Shami caught behind for a duck and India were 141-8, with their hopes of just a seventh win in 58 Tests in England fading fast.

And when Ishant Sharma was lbw to leg-spinner Adil Rashid's googly for 11, India had been reduced to 154-9 and soon afterwards Pandya nicked Stokes to Cook.