ENG vs IND: Annoyed Virat Kohli smashes dressing room door after being dismissed at The Oval

Indian skipper Virat Kohli was evidently dejected after falling for 44 in the second innings of The Oval Test, as he edged a Moeen Ali delivery to Craig Overton at first slip on the fourth morning. Resuming on 22 overnight, Kohli seemed well-set as he unfurled a couple of glorious drives, including his trademark one through the extra cover, as he creamed Overton in the region only a couple of overs before his dismissal.

However, Joe Root’s decision to introduce spin materialized in the best of ways for England as Moeen Ali struck in the his very first over of the day to get the prized scalp of the Indian skipper, who was only six short of his 28th Test half-century; and the third consecutive in the series. Kohli took a giant stride forward against a delivery that pitched outside off and spun ever so slightly before kissing the outside edge and settling into the hands of the slips fielder.

Kohli, who has now played 53 innings without a century – last being in November 2019 during the Day-Night Test against Bangladesh in Eden Gardens – disappointedly walked back and went on to smash the dressing room door in what was a slightly emotional moment for him. He is averaging 31.14 in the current series, having scored 218 in seven innings.

India’s nervy morning 

After the game was cut short on Day 3 on account of bad light, India looked the happier side walking with seven wickets left and a solid 171-run lead. Things, however, changed quickly – not for the first time in the series – on the fourth morning as India lost three crucial wickets, including that of Kohli’s.

Overnight batters Jadeja and Kohli did well to see off the initial burst of England pacers, but Chris Woakes made inroads by trapping the former lbw for 17 off 59 who reviewed it to no avail. Struggling for form and seemingly demoted to No. 6 now, the Indian vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed in a similar mode, as he tried to play Woakes across the line, only to miss and be rapped on pads rather plumb to record an eight-ball duck.

Notably, he had successfully reviewed a shout only moments before, but he was not second time lucky. In a session that produced only 59 runs at the loss of three wickets, England ensured that they did not allow India to carry on the momentum they had so skillfully built the previous day.