Wilyashwin givesindiaupperhand
Virat Kohli’s direct throw to remove Joe Root triggers collapse as offspinner returns with four wickets
least a half-century in each of his 12 Tests against India. However, he has been criticised for not converting fifties into centuries --- 11 Tests without a ton since the 136 against West Indies here in August, 2017.
Kohli ensured the run continued, and it lifted the spirits of the visitors. Root, and a free-flowing Bairstow (70 off 88 balls), had motored to a 100-run fourthwicket stand off just 137 balls. India had leaked 13 fours, or more than 50% of those runs, when Kohli intervened.
There was a kiss blown in Root’s direction and the finger on the lips, perhaps at the England skipper who had a ‘drop the mike’ celebration after his century in the final ODI.
In the morning, opener Keaton Jennings was dropped by Ajinkya Rahane at fourth slip off Ishant Sharma on nine. The youngster, who hit a debut century on the 2016 India tour, though lost focus after lunch when a pigeon came on to the pitch. Having shooed the bird away, he was out next delivery to Shami, the ball trickling on to the stumps off the inside edge and pad.
He also trapped Dawid Malan leg before to expose England’s middle-order fragility. Once Kohli found the target, Umesh Yadav got the aggressive Jonny Bairstow play onto the stumps with reverse swing as the hosts didn’t show the character to dig in. Ashwin, his place in question, was on a mission. He gave little away, trapping Jos Buttler for a second-ball duck before deceiving Ben Stokes with an off-break that bounced extra and was played back to him.