After a solid performance with the ball, Virat Kohli's Team India suffer a familiar collapse at the top of the order.
Team India found themselves in a deep hole on Thursday as Sam Curran picked three quick wickets for England in the first Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The visitors went into Lunch on Day 2 at 76/3 after 21 overs, with skipper Virat Kohli batting on 9 and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane unbeaten on 8.
England were bowled out for 287 in the second over on Day 2, but the hosts came roaring back into the contest thanks to left-arm pacer Curran. India were reduced to 59/3 in the 16th over with opener Shikhar Dhawan walking back for a 46-ball 26.
The first Indian wicket to fall was Murali Vijay. The right-hander made 20 from 45 but never really looked settled. After surviving a couple of close calls, he was eventually trapped in front by Curran. The empire gave it not-out but DRS went England's way.
Next one to perish was KL Rahul. He was included in the playing Xi at the cost of seasoned campaigner Cheteshwar Pujara, a lot was expected of him due to the kind of form he has been in over the past few months. But the right-hander got out on the second ball he faced, with the first one being edged past gully for four. He played a nothing shot to get out, leaving his bat way outside off stump and chopping on. Curran bowled that delivery from over the wicket and it could've easily been left alone, but Rahul showed a glaring lack of temperament.
Watch the Indian wickets here
Dhawan was dismissed soon after as he drove away from his body, the ball shaped away and the edge pouched comfortably by Dawid Malan at second slip.
India were left with skipper Kohli - under considerable pressure after the horrors of his last tour to England - and Rahane at the crease. The visitors might've been proud of their performance with the ball but suddenly had a mountain to climb with the bat.
The quick dismissals at the top of the order even put a huge question mark on Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri's decision to keep Pujara on the bench. The right-hander from Saurashtra is known to bat in a disciplined manner and grind it out, something that seemed to be lacking in Vijay, Dhawan and Rahul on Thursday.
Earlier, as expected, the English batting didn't last for long on Day 2. Fast-bowler Mohammed Shami picked up his third wicket as Curran edged out to wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik in the second over of the day. England finished at 287 all-out in 89.4 overs.
The downside for the visitors was that Ravichandran Ashwin, who bowled the first over of the day, missed out on getting a much-deserved five-wicket haul. Pacer James Anderson remained not-out on 2 for the hosts.
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 "Kl Rahul is clean-bowled by San Curran on Thursday")
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