India captain scores his 15th Test century (147*) to guide India to 451/7; Murali Vijay, too, registers three-figure score; hosts lead by 51 runs at stumps on Day Three
Watching a heap of wickets fall at the other end can bog down a set batsman, even those who belong to the breed of greats. But Virat Kohli is proving time and again that he’s a class of his own, one that’s above the rest.
At 307/6 chasing England’s first innings total of 400, India were in danger of falling short. That was the time to take stock of the mayhem, pause and steady the ship. Kohli, batting on 64 then, saw things differently. He decided to add to the mayhem, fast forward and rebuild the ship.
An over after the hosts lost their sixth wicket of Ravichandran Ashwin, the skipper smacked two fours – a sweep and back foot punch through square leg — off Adil Rashid to throw the counter-punch. It was a decisive strike, for it rattled England for the rest of the day.
Crafting the 15th century of his flourishing Test career, Kohli took his team into a position of strength from a position of stutter, with India ending the third day of the fourth Test on 451/7 at the Wankhede here on Saturday.
With a lead of 51 and Kohli still holding fort on 147 in company of the fast-growing all-rounder Jayant Yadav, the skipper will be sitting happy on the dinner table after a rollercoaster day.
The ride began nice and early. Overnight batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who walked out with Murali Vijay at 146/1, probably woke up on the wrong side of the bed. In just the second ball of the day by Jake Ball, Pujara offered no shot to a fairly straight ball that jagged back just a bit to take his off stump.
But Vijay and Kohli woke up alright, and had the English bowlers for breakfast. After a couple of outside edges through gully, Kohli got back to his elements, piercing Moeen Ali through covers and pulling Ben Stokes through square leg with equal precision.
Resuming his innings on 70, Vijay made his intentions clear early when he danced down the wicket to slam Ali back over his head for a six in the sixth over of the morning. Vijay was milking the offie, and it was probably apt that he reached his landmark off his bowling, tapping an easy single to notch up his eighth Test ton.
The duo brought up their 100-run partnership in the last over before lunch, and England broke it fifth over after the break. Vijay hit a full toss off the toe end of the bat that went straight back to Rashid.
The hosts, who benefitted from the DRS in the first session when an LBW decision against Vijay was overturned, lost a wicket due to it soon after. An edgy-looking Karun Nair missed a turning Moeen Ali ball from around the wicket as it hit the pad. The umpire didn’t like it but England reviewed it. Third umpire C Shamsuddin took an eternity to decide whether there was an edge. After concluding that there wasn’t and with three reds in the ball tracking system, the decision was overturned.
Parthiv Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin succumbed to the part-time spin of Joe Root, halting the hosts at 307/6. That’s when Kohli pushed his pedal harder.
He got one life, though, when Rashid spilled a tough caught and bowled chance with the Indian on 68. The skipper made England pay for it along with Ravindra Jadeja, who lived by the sword and died by it on 25 but not before the two stitched a vital 57-run stand.
It set the stage for Kohli to take over the show completely, bringing up his century by taking a single in the 121st over and pumping his wrist. He also pumped up India’s lead by the end of the day. What’s more, he’s still there.
Did you know?
Virat Kohli became the third Indian skipper to amass 1000 runs or more in a calendar year — 1112 runs (ave.79.42) in 11 Tests. He has joined Rahul Dravid - 1095 runs (ave.60.83) in 12 Tests in 2006 and Sachin Tendulkar— 1000 runs (ave.62.50) in 12 Tests in 1997
All in a day’s play
SESSION 1
Vijay gets ton
England begin perfectly, removing Cheteshwar Pujara in the second ball of the day. Murali Vijay and Virat Kohli pause their joy quickly, the former notching up his eighth hundred in the company of his captain.
At Lunch: India 247/2 in 83 overs (M Vijay 124*, V Kohli 44*)
SESSION 2
India lose 4 wickets
An Adil Rashid full toss gets Vijay, before Karun Nair goes back courtesy the DRS. Kohli keeps going, but Joe Root surprises everyone by picking up two wickets – Parthiv Patel and R Ashwin – as England road back.
At Tea: India 348/6 in 113 overs (V Kohli 83*, R Jadeja 22*)
SESSION 3
Kohli all the way
Kohli continues to mix attack with caution, while Ravindra Jadeja perished on 25. But it doesn’t stop the skipper, who brings up his century and remains unbeaten with Jayant Yadav to put India ahead of England.
At Stumps: India 451/7 in 142 overs (V Kohli 147*, J Yadav 30*)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Virat Kohli")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}