Skipper Virat Kohli slams 97, while vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane scores 81 as India end Day One on 307-6 against England at Trent Bridge
Virat Kohli in full flight against England at Trent Bridge on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
It is halfway through the first day. Joe Root has three men deployed on the leg-side boundary. Another two are waiting at midwicket and square leg. The tactics are clear, bowl short and try bounce out the Indian batsmen. At the crease, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have taken India to a score of 181-3. India are in command and with every run, Root is regretting his decision to insert the visitors on a slow Trent Bridge pitch.
Ajinkya Rahane during his 81 on Saturday. Pic/Bipin Patel
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An hour earlier Root was ecstatic, as on the stroke of lunch, Cheteshwar Pujara perished hooking a short ball from Chris Woakes into the hands of fine-leg. At that time, one felt that India were digging themselves into another hole as they finished the session on 82-3. But by stumps, Virat Kohli had once again wrestled back the initiative with a brilliant knock of 97 from 152 balls to propel India to 307-6 on the Day One of the third Test in the Pataudi Trophy series. Kohli was the day's hero, but a lot of credit should go to Rahane (81) and the Indian openers. Shikhar Dhawan showed that he can adjust to English pitches by playing late and with soft hands. KL Rahul scored 23 and put on 60 runs with Dhawan.
England on the other hand, will rue the fact that they didn't bowl the right lengths. In the first 10 overs, apart from four balls, the rest would have sailed over the stumps. The new ball had been wasted and despite, Rahul and Dhawan eventually perishing to fine deliveries, England lost the opportunity of making further inroads into India's vulnerable batting.
Rahane strode out after lunch and immediately one could sense there was a lot more intent in his play. He played a beautiful off-drive off the 10th ball he faced, to the boundary. It was the first boundary in the 'V' in India's innings and it also gave Rahane the much-needed confidence. His movement was a lot more decisive.
No longer was he glued on the front foot; he rediscovered his back foot play. Out came the square cut, the uppercut and majestic square drive, a shot that brought up his 50. Unfortunately, he perished on 81 trying a booming drive, but not before he had added 159 with Kohli for the fourth wicket. Apart from a brief spell from Broad, Kohli was untroubled as he played some glorious shots all around the wicket. But just as he was in touching distance of his 23rd century, he fell to the spin of Adil Rashid for 97, brilliantly caught at first slip by Stokes.
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