| Translate This News In |
|---|
India presented an exhibition on how to thrive in challenging circumstances in a match where significant criticism over the nature of the pitch remained a hot topic for the first two days. On Day 4 of the 2nd Test, Virat Kohli’s men emerged on top as the side defeated England by 317 runs, levelling the four-match 1-1 series.
It was a dominant display by the home side from start to finish, and local boy Ravichandran Ashwin in Chennai remained central to it all. In the first innings, the off-spinner took his 29th Test five-wicket haul, then scored a century that steered the game away from the reach of England. Ashwin secured another 3 wickets in the second innings to add to his already increased status as a match-winner for the Indian Test team.
After Virat Kohli opted to bat, India scored 329 in the first innings. With the entire top-order bar Rohit Sharma (161) failing to step up, the side suffered a poor beginning. The pitch helped Ball One spinners in abundance, and after the early setbacks, Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane (65) played with immense grit and patience to steer the Indian innings.
Rishabh Pant, who cannot seem to put a foot wrong at the moment, played another important knock as he remained unbeaten on 85 to put India past 300.
On 134, England, in return, were bowled out. With 5/43 figures, Ravichandran Ashwin shined, while debutant Axar Patel played his role well, including that of captain Joe Root, for his two wickets. On his very first delivery of the game, Mohammed Siraj, who was playing his first test on Indian soil, collected a wicket. Ishant Sharma bowled only five overs while taking two wickets.
India boasted a huge advantage with a strong 195-run lead, and every added run seemed to take the game further away from England. India faced a collapse on Day 3 with the side losing five key wickets in 41 runs, but Captain Kohli (62) and Ashwin (106) not only stabilised the Indian innings but also placed India with a stable 96-run stand in a dominant position.
The batting approach of Ashwin also invoked curiosity among the critics of the pitch conditions, as the 34-year-old, despite the presence of one of the best batsmen in world cricket at the other end, batted with aggression. With a strike rate of 71.62, he played, taking 148 balls for his 106.
With his unbeaten 16, Mohammed Siraj also played a capable hand, as the pacer helped to a 49-run stand for the final wicket.
At the end of Day 3, England lost three wickets, and despite looking confident enough during Day 3’s final overs, Dan Lawrence fell on Day 4 to Ravichandran Ashwin for England’s first wicket. As the Indian spinners on a challenging pitch failed to decode, the batsmen continued to fall.
In his maiden test, debutant Axar Patel took his first five-wicket haul, whereas, in the second innings, Ravichandran Ashwin also took three wickets. Kuldeep Yadav, who, after more than two years, made a comeback to the Indian Test team, removed Ben Foakes for his only wicket. On 164, England were ultimately bowled out.
