It was a best collective effort of the series by India as they ended opening day’s of the third Test match with 307 for 6. Virat Kohli once again called the wrong side of the coin and Joe Root decided to put the visitors in to bat. It was a much better performance from the new opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul.
Dhawan impressed as shelved his cover drives and focussed on hitting the ball with the horizontal bat.
The left-hand and right-hand combination put together an alliance of 60 runs which was the best of the series for the tourists. However, when it was hunky-dory for India, Chris Woakes who was the hero of the second Test match, helped England bounce back.
The best Collective effort of the series by India.
Dhawan outside edge was caught safely by Jos Buttler and KL Rahul was plumbed by an incoming delivery. Cheteshwar Pujara tried to bring out an extinct shot from his closet and found Adil Rashid which left him shell-shocked. Thus, after a good start, India went into lunch with 82-3.
India’s two best batsmen were at the crease then, Virat Kohli who has done everything right whereas Ajinkya Rahane has looked out of sorts. However, it was a perfect opportunity for the Indian deputy to stand tall to his skills. Both Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane played some delightful shots to put together an alliance of 159 runs.
In fact, the runs were coming thick and fast as the pair put on an exhibition of fine strokeplay. However, Ajinkya Rahane perished in an attempt to keep scoring at the same rate as Alastair Cook took a fine instinctive catch.
Other Indian batsmen finally wake up.
Adil Rashid who had lacked in both line and length came back to take out the big fish, Virat Kohli. Rashid lured the Indian captain into a big cover drive and Kohli felled in the trap to go for the bait. Thus, Kohli was out in the nervous nineties for the second time in his Test career.
Hardik Pandya tried to play an uncharacteristic inning as he showed a stomach for a fight. Meanwhile, debutant Rishabh Pant batted in a way he only knows, that is in the topmost gear.
Brief Scores: India 307-6, Virat Kohli 97, Ajinkya Rahane 81.
Chris Woakes 3-75.
