ENG vs IND: Two wickets in two balls for James Anderson, skipper Virat Kohli departs for duck

The ageless James Anderson was at it again for his side and Joe Root and co were relieved as the veteran dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli off consecutive balls to reduce India to 104/3 right after the lunch break in the first Test at Trent Bridge.

A disastrous half an hour of play in the second session for India meant they were 112/4 from 97/0.

Cheteshwar Pujara had survived an LBW scare in the previous over when he shouldered his arms to a straighter delivery but thankfully for Pujara, the ball was going over the stumps and his decision for the review was successful.

However, it wasn't to be for Pujara as seven balls later, Anderson didn't require the reviews or anything else as he induced an outside edge India's No 3 got out for just 4 runs.

If that wasn't enough, Anderson removed Indian skipper Virat Kohli with a peach of a delivery, the next ball for a first-ball duck and India were suddenly three down in a matter of a few minutes.

WOWWWW! @jimmy9 gets Kohli first ball and Trent Bridge is absolutely rocking!

Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/5eQO5BWXUp#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/g06S0e4GN7

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 5, 2021

With that wicket, Anderson equalled former Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble's tally of 619 wickets and is just one scalp away from becoming the third highest wicket-taker in the world in Test matches only behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warner.

And, if the 39-year old's twin strikes were huge blows for India, the situation had to get more troublesome as a mix-up between KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane meant the latter got out to Jonny Bairstow's direct hit and the visitors were suddenly in trouble losing four wickets inside 15 runs.