Rohit 161 makes it India’s day despite the grounds

Rohit Sharma’s prolific hitting play during his 161 hit, which included 18 fours and two sixes, was ably supported by the solid hitting of Ajinkya Rahane (67) in a 162-run fourth partnership. But the terrain of the first and last session on Saturday (February 13) prevented India from leaving the lead on a bumpy Day 1 of the second test in Chennai. India entered Stumps at 300-for-6, with Rishabh Pant and rookie Axar Patel still batting.

On dry ground that it had bitten and kicked since the opening session, India scored 106 runs before lunch, over four and more, but at the cost of three wickets. The hosts were a bit slower after the lunch break, with 83 runs scored in just under three and more in the second session, but Rohit and Rahane made sure India didn’t lose any ground. The fourth wicket partnership, which began when India placed precariously at 86-for-3, lasted over 50 overs before England reappeared in the final session collecting three more wickets, at the cost of 111 runs that came to a run rate. . of 3.2.

Having played Rohit’s second fiddle in the first two sessions, Rahane started off with a boundary flurry in the final session, showing good footwork, either going down the track or using the depth of the crease, as he passed fifty. . The Rohit 150 was the next milestone, followed by the society’s 150 crossing. There was a call for confusion when Jack Leach beat Rohit and the batter’s back foot appeared to be in the crease, but the third referee ruled in favor of the batter. Rohit, however, fell shortly after sweeping Leach which ended with an excellent knock and a partnership that lasted more than 50 overs.

There was more controversy with the third referee when England thought Rahane was caught on the short leg in front of Leach. The initial shot, which Rahane missed, indicated that no bat was involved. But after the ball hit his pad, it brushed against Rahane’s glove, but that segment was not reviewed by the third referee, much to the disappointment of England. Rahane eventually went down, knocked down by Moeen after failing a sweep and shortly thereafter, the review that England had lost due to referee error was restored.

It didn’t take long for Pant to take on the bowlers, with the vicious twist further justifying his attacking game. He first saved a long jump from Leach for a four before going down the track to tonk one at the cows corner for a six. Ashwin, meanwhile, played a pitch from Moeen through the coverage region during his first four, while Pant also hit two successive fours off the spinner before reversing a catch-behind decision in favor of the pitcher. While Ashwin fell to Joe Root at the end of the day, Pant remained undefeated and Axar helped India reach 300.

Previously, in what was an action-packed first session, Olly Stone, coming in as a replacement for Jofra Archer, caught Shubman Gill up front by a duck. Rohit put the pressure back on England by beating units on the away side and set limits at regular intervals to get India going, while Cheteshwar Pujara was solid as usual at the other end. Hitters struggled at times, but Rohit made sure the runs came at a fast pace, sweeping, shooting and driving with confidence. But England responded with quick wickets when Leach took into account that Pujara finished an 85-run stoppage while Virat Kohli fell to Moeen without scoring, looking to drive against the top but leaving a gate to be thrown.

England’s bowlers were much tighter early in the second session, with Leach and Stone bowling on par to keep India under control. The release shot came from Rahane, who scored a pair of Stone limits on the outside side. The first four of Rohit’s session came as he launched himself into the air to sweep Moeen away and, a few laps later, he hopped down the track onto the spinning wheel to dispatch a longer one.

There were a couple of nervous shots from Rohit as he approached the triple-figure mark, but he regained his composure to pull out his fourth century in 13 innings as a starter. There were still bites and kicks on the court, with some edging and shaving along the way. But that didn’t affect the productivity of the hitters who lifted the position a century before England fought back in the final session.

Brief scores: India 300/6 (Rohit Sharma 161, Ajinkya Rahane 67; Jack Leach 2-78, Moeen Ali 2-112) against England.