England vs India: 1st Test, Day 2, Review- Virat Kohli single-handedly takes India to a position of dominance

After a lacklustre third session of the first day of their opening Test against India in Birmingham, England needed to start their second day with a rejuvenated approach. On the contrary, the Indian team would’ve wished to carry forward their momentum. Eventually, the home team dictated terms to the oppositions as England are currently leading by 22 runs with nine wickets left in the second innings.

Sam Curran undoes India’s impressive start

Sam Curran and James Anderson were England’s overnight batsmen with the score at 285/9 in 88 overs. Mohammed Shami dismissed Curran to bowl the Brits out for 287 runs. Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay opened and got India off to a steady start with a partnership of 50 from 78 balls. Left-arm seamer Curran separated the duo when he trapped Vijay plumb in front for 20 runs.

In the same over, he accounted for KL Rahul’s wicket as the batsman went for a rash stroke outside the off-stump only to see his stumps shattered. A couple of overs later, the 20-year-old left India in utter shambles as Dhawan perished for 26 runs. Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, and Ajinkya Rahane played the rest of the overs to end India’s pre-lunch session with the score at 76/3 in 21 overs.

Visitors slump further

The next session started on an impressive note for the visiting team as Virat and Rahane steadied the ship. But Ben Stokes nipped out Rahane to break the 41-run stand. India found themselves in a rabbit hole when the speedster castled Dinesh Karthik, who was unable to open his account. Hardik Pandya showed some resilience and cobbled a stand of 48 runs with his skipper.

Nevertheless, Curran picked him up and steadfastly Kohli was running out of partners. At the stroke of Tea, the Delhi-born cricketer accomplished his maiden half-century on English soil, his previous highest score being 39 runs back in 2014. India ended the session with the score at 160/6 after 48 overs. Most importantly, they still were 127 runs adrift of England’s first innings total.

Kohli pummels England

The last session didn’t start on an auspicious note for India as Ashwin was cleaned up by James Anderson. The English pacer got rid of Shami and all of a sudden the visiting team was staring down the barrel of conceding a lead. Kohli, at the other end, didn’t drop the gun and expertly farmed the strike. Ishant Sharma courageously staved off the bowling and carved a 35-run stand with Virat off 63 balls.

Rashid broke the stand when the umpire adjudged him Leg Before Wicket. At the fall of the ninth wicket, Virat was on 97 runs and had Umesh Yadav as his last partner. However, the 30-year-old played cleverly and notched his 22nd Test ton courtesy of a thunderous cut stroke through point off Stokes. Rashid eventually picked him up after he piled 149 runs in 225 balls. India were bowled out for 274 runs.

With a lead of 13 runs, Keaton Jennings and Alastair Cook commenced proceedings. Shami bowled a couple of maidens. To England’s agony, Alastair Cook couldn’t make an impact yet again. Ravichandran Ashwin rattled his woodwork when the left-hander played inside the line of the delivery. Following a jittery start, India would be happy with the dominating way they finished the day.

Raina’s tweet for Kohli

Brief scores   

England: 287 all out in 89.4 overs; (Joe Root 80, Jonny Bairstow 70; Ravichandran Ashwin 4/62, Ishant Sharma 1/46)

India: 274 all out in 76 overs; (Virat Kohli 149, Shikhar Dhawan 26; Sam Curran 4/74, Adil Rashid 2/31)

England: 9/1 in 3.4 overs; (Keaton Jennings 5*, Alastair Cook 0; Ravichandran Ashwin 1/5, Mohammad Shami 0/0)

England lead by 22 runs

Close of Play: Day 2

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