Until and unless something dramatic happens on the final day, it is quite safe to say that the opening Test of the five-match series is headed towards a draw.
England finished the fourth day on 114 for 0, with their overall lead stretched to 163 runs. Earlier, resuming the day on 319 for 4, the Indian team made a poor start as they lost Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli cheaply. Rahane was clean bowled by Zafar Ansari on 13 while Kohli was dismissed hit wicket on 40. With the team in a spot of bother, Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha added 64 runs for the seventh wicket to steady the ship. After Saha’s dismissal, Ashwin batted sensibly with the tail to take the hosts quite close to England’s first innings total of 537. The Indian team was eventually dismissed for 488, with Ashwin being the last wicket to fall after scoring 70. With a healthy lead of 49, the English openers took their team to a strong position in the match by sharing an unbeaten partnership of 114 runs. Apart from the first few overs, Alastair Cook and Haseeb Hameed faced little trouble in facing R Ashwin and Co.. Hameed was looking more impressive than his superior partner and scored 62 while Cook remained unbeaten on 46.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the day’s play:
https://twitter.com/cricketworms/status/797391256808632321
Ths is annihilation of d Top Ranked test team on their home soil with d Top ranked test bowler @ashwinravi99 in their ranks as wel#INDvENG
— Priyabrat Samal (@vicky_nemesis) November 12, 2016
Ashwin hasn't got a wicket yet in the second innings. Some retired Sardar will hopefully get a sound sleep tonight #INDvENG
— The Goan Patiala ?. ? (@TheGoanPatiala) November 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/VirkCricket/status/797399077910704130
I bet Alex Hales wishes he went to Bangladesh now. #INDvENG
— Richard Hendy ?⚪⚫ (@rhendy_mufc_20) November 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/TyagiNitisha/status/797394951655014401
When he liked a player, Azhar would say " Idea hain usko cricket ka " That's what I feel when I see young Haseeb Hameed bat. #INDvENG
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 12, 2016
It's early days but Hameed looks a great find! He's played this beautifully! These two look a good foil for each other. #INDvENG ??
— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) November 12, 2016
By batting as long as they did, India ensured that only something very very unusual could force a result against them!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/797360945945137152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Ashwin making surgical strikes here, Surgically splitting the field
— 15Degrees (@desigiri82) November 12, 2016
Virat Kohli 2nd Indian captain to be hit-wicket after Lal Amarnath (at Madras, Jan 1949)#IndvEng
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 12, 2016
#BREAKING:Virat Kohli Got Hit Wicket Because He Wanted To Stand Early In Bank Queue For Exchanging Rs 500 & Rs 1000 Notes#IndvsEng #IndvENG
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) November 12, 2016
Just asked @virendersehwag if he ever got out hit wicket?? Viru responded, "you kidding? I never moved my feet!" ?
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) November 12, 2016
https://twitter.com/AltCricket/status/797298864520908801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw