Cometh the hour – Cometh the champion. Indian Test captain Virat Kohli ramp into records books after scoring a blistering 235 runs in the first innings of the Mumbai Test against England. Not only him, all-rounder Jayant Yadav notched up his maiden hundred too, batting at the number nine position. England, who trailed behind 241 runs once, managed 182/6 at stumps on day four of the fourth Test match.
India, in pursuit of clinching their first series win over England in 10 years, started off well after registering 451 runs overnight. Virat Kohli, who seemed in no hurry, paced his innings well along with Jayant Yadav, who only in his second Test, impressed everyone with his batting.
With just one hour into the game, Virat Kohli inched closer to achieving something which none of the India captains in Tests history acquired, a third double hundred as a skipper. Glancing one to mid-wicket, the 28-year-old held his fist high in the air and raised his bat for the ovation, as he brought up his first double ton against England.
With this double hundred, he became the only player ever to register three 200 plus scores in successive series and also equalled the record of smashing three double hundreds in a single calendar year held by Brendon McCullum, Ricky Ponting and sir Donald George Bradman. Only Michael Clarke is ahead of Kohli with 4 double hundreds which he amassed in 2012. Virat Kohli still has one match to equal Clarke’s heroics.
Adding more to England’s misery, Jayant Yadav too notched up his maiden hundred, making himself the first Indian ever to reach this landmark. Looking at the English faces, every single moment was felt like a year to them.
The batting pair put on a massive partnership of 241 runs for the eighth wicket before Adil Rashid trapped the off-spinner in a flighted delivery which got him stumped. Overs later, Chris Woakes dismissed the tired looking Virat Kohli on 235, balls after he was whacked for a six by the Indian skipper. Indian innings ended on 621, heading with a massive lead of 241 runs with five sessions more to play.
England, in their reply, got off to the worst start losing first innings centurion Keaton Jennings for a first ball duck. Worried looking Alastair Cook was then joined by Joe Root at the crease. Before the pair could stride their innings forward, Ravindra Jadeja spoiled their plan and trapped Cook in front of the wicket for 18. In the space of nine deliveries, Moeen Ali was also found walking back to the hut for zero. England was reduced to 49 for three at tea.
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow were then left to rescue the visitors out of trouble. The pair did play some lusty shots which fortunately fetched them runs, escaping close calls and a couple of wrong decisions too.
Joe Root, who scored yet another fifty on the tour was later adjudged LBW on Jayant Yadav’s delivery. All-rounder Ben Stokes had his moments too but gave his wicket to Ravichandran Ashwin for just 15. The off-spinner then got the night-watchman Jake Ball out for mere two runs. Standing on the other side, Jonny Bairstow didn’t see amused even after bringing up his third fifty of the series.
After a lump in their form, England is for sure staring at the defeat, an embarrassing defeat rather with 49 runs deficit and three sessions remaining.
Stumps At Day Four:
India – 631; Virat Kohli 235(340), Murali Vijay 136(282), Adil Rashid 4/192.
England – 182/6; Joe Root 77(112), Jonny Bairstow 50*(95), Ravichandran Ashwin 2/49.