Twitter Reactions: Ravi Ashwin's five-wicket haul puts India in pole position in second Test against England

India have taken a big stride towards levelling the four-match Test series against England. After posting 329 runs in the first innings, they bowled superbly courtesy of Ravi Ashwin and bundled out the visitors for just 134 runs to bag a huge lead of 195 runs. The hosts have batted well in their second essay and have extended their lead to 249 runs and it looks very tough for England to make a comeback from here.

India resumed on the second morning at 300/6 but lost Axar Patel and Ishant Sharma in the first 10 minutes itself. Rishabh Pant then shifted gears to smack a couple of big shots and get to his fourth consecutive half-century in as many Tests. But there was hardly any support for him from the other end as the home side was skittled for just 329 runs with Moeen Ali ending with a four-wicket haul.

Ashwin spins his web around England

England batsmen had an idea of what they will be facing on a deteriorating Chennai surface. However, it was Ishant Sharma who got India off to a rollicking start pinning Rory Burns in front of the stumps in the very first over. Ravi Ashwin opened the bowling from the other end and sent back Dom Sibley soon. Joe Root played one too many sweep shots only to top edge off Axar Patel to be caught at short fine leg.

The wily Ashwin took matters into his own hands then to send back Daniel Lawrence and Ben Stokes to leave England reeling at 52/5. Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes then kept India at bay and played out spin well for almost 15 overs. This time around though it was Mohammed Siraj who picked up a wicket off his first ball in Test cricket in India to send back Pope.

Rishabh Pant dived to his left to take a sensational catch and soon, despite a lower-order resistance, England were bundled out for just 134 runs. Ishant Sharma returned for another spell to nip out Jack Leach again to a brilliant catch from Pant while Ashwin completed his 29th five-wicket haul dismissing Stuart Broad.

Rohit stands tall yet again

With 195 runs in the bank, the Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill started confidently. The duo added 42 runs in less than 12 overs before Gill was trapped in front of the stumps by Leach. Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit then played out the rest of the day unscathed as India ended on 54/1 after 18 overs stretching their lead to 249 runs.

They will be keen on batting England out of the game and batting fourth on this pitch will be close to impossible for the visitors after the way they fared in the first innings.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Reality bites, as have India’s spinners. Pant, Ashwin and Foakes outstanding today. Pitch very tricky but worth repeating point made y’day, it has been very tricky from the start. Toss not decisive

— Mike atherton (@Athersmike) February 14, 2021

Rohit offered no shot, umpires have made a huge error. If I were England I would be asking a few hard questions before test 3! #INDvENG #cricket

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) February 14, 2021

Shocking every cricketer in the world knows he didn’t play a shot!! Terrible umpiring #sharma

— Nick Compton (@thecompdog) February 14, 2021

Shot played 🙈. Never been playing a shot there. #INDvsENG

— Rikki Clarke (@RikkiClarke81) February 14, 2021

This is out #sharma

— Nick Compton (@thecompdog) February 14, 2021

Bad review I think 😂 #INDvsENG

— Rikki Clarke (@RikkiClarke81) February 14, 2021

I’m all for a good contest between bat and ball in test match cricket but this pitch in Chennai is unacceptable at test match level. You can’t have the ball going through the top of the surface on day 1 from the main part of the pitch. Ie not from the footmarks.

— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) February 14, 2021

Very few better sights in the game than Rohit Sharma pulling a fast bowler into the crowd.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 14, 2021

Well done again PAANCHwin @ashwinravi99 #fiferking

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 14, 2021

Ash-WIN !! Another 5er !! Another usual day at the office @ashwinravi99 #INDvEND

— Mithun Manhas (@MithunManhas) February 14, 2021

India – test match – R Ashwin – 5 wkts #synonymous

Superb catching by India too 👌🏽

— DK (@DineshKarthik) February 14, 2021

Indian spinners have shown us how to bowl on this pitch. Keeping pace on the ball & not a freebie in sight. Well bowled @ashwinravi99 with yet another 5fer #IndvsEng

— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) February 14, 2021

One of the Great 42 not outs from Ben Foakes … #INDENG

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 14, 2021

Seriously how good have Pant and Foakes been in this game…Outstanding !!!

— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) February 14, 2021

Strength and Conditioning coach Nick Webb removing Rohit's GPS tracker at the end of the day. All the data will be recorded for fitness/preperation. Modern day cricket. #INDvEND #INDvENG #rohitsharma45 pic.twitter.com/cM3U2uiiuy

— Gav Joshi (@Gampa_cricket) February 14, 2021