After a dismal record against England in the past, Indian captain Virat Kohli is making a killing in this series. On Saturday also, Kohli played a captain’s knock as he helped India recover from early losses. India were 40 for 3. From there on, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane steadied the ship and took the team total to 98 for the loss of 3 wickets. After a match-saving 49 in the second innings of the first Test match, Virat Kohli had made another match-saving 167 runs in the first innings of the ongoing Test. In the second innings also, he has proved to be the pillar of Indian batting challenge. He has scored 56 runs and will continue on Sunday along with Ajinkya Rahane.
Earlier, R Ashwin took 5 wickets to rattle England’s batting line up. England were bundled out for a paltry 255, handing a crucial 200 runs lead to India. It was expected of the Indian batting line up to score quickly and put up enough on the board for the bowlers to get England out. However, that plan didn’t work out for India as England pacers menaced the Indian batsmen with some world class pace bowling. Stuart Broad removed both the openers, while James Andersen got in-form Cheteshwar Pujara. Virat Kohli, however, appeared comfortable and determined to score for his team. India already have a lead of 298 runs at stumps.
Tomorrow, if India could score runs for a couple of sessions, England will be virtually out of the game. England, on the other hand, will try to bowl out the Indians to be in a position to salvage the Test match. With India in a very strong position and still two full days of play left, it will be a miracle if England could save the Test match.
However, it is also a slippery road. If in haste India lose wickets on Sunday, even the Englishmen would have an outside chance of pulling off a miracle.
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