The Wankhede Stadium filled up over 19000 seats on Saturday
(December 10) with a singular hope of watching India's latest superstar,
Virat Kohli, perform in the skin. A good majority of them had to rush
to their seats as the India required their captain's services as early
as the third ball of the day's play. Seven hours and 241 balls and
later, Kohli walked back to the dressing room to a raucous ovation and
handshakes from the game's other participants, having accumulated 147 of
the classiest runs as India emphatically marched into control of the
fourth Test with a 51-run lead.
Kohli received
able support from Murali Vijay, who dispelled any concerns about his
form and technique, with a typically eye-catching 136. After the early
loss of Cheteshwar Pujara, the duo led an admirable counter-attack that
helped the hosts offset a middle-order wobble and still move into the
ascendancy.
On a day in which Adil Rashid and
Moeen Ali combined to bowl 61 overs on a spin-conducive pitch, it was
the seamer Jake Ball, who set India back early. Pujara shouldered arms
to a Jake Ball inswinger and was out bowled - for the 17th time in his
relatively short Test career.
After ducking under
England's attempts to bounce him out, Kohli peppered the vacant
third-man region with a succession of fours. Moeen, bowling from the
other end, was launched over head for a six by Vijay and just like that
India had seamlessly shifted the pressure back on England with the pair
adding 43 in the first 11 overs of play. Ben Stokes came on to replace
Ball when fielders slowly moved past the inner circles into more
boundary-rope hugging positions. That opened up the field for Kohli and
Vijay to pinch singles on either side of the wicket, which they did with
great efficacy to keep the partnership going.
The
duo added 101 in the opening session with Vijay completing his eighth
Test century. But like in any riveting contest, the tide turned in the
post-lunch session as realisation dawned upon the spinners that the
Wankhede pitch was an ally. But like at Mohali, India's slide started
with an innocuous Rashid delivery that Vijay drilled straight back at
the bowler. England then denied Kohli the boundaries as they got to work
with an inexperienced middle-order with their spin attack. After Moeen
trapped Karun Nair (13) in front of his stumps, Joe Root fancied a bowl
and instantly reaped rewards in the form of Parthiv Patel (15) and
Ravichandran Ashwin (0). In just over an hour, India went from 262 for 2
to 307 for 6, still trailing England by 93.
Just
when the first innings lead seemed a distant possibility, the arrival
of Ravindra Jadeja turned the tide once more. Fatigue got to Rashid as
he offered a slew of short-pitched deliveries, allowing both Kohli and
Jadeja the freedom to pick up boundaries. In a small period of play
before Tea, the deficit had been reduced to 52.
Jadeja
fell after Tea for an entertaining 25 with India still some distance
away from achieving first innings parity. But Jayant Yadav brought
much-needed calm after the
Jadeja storm and that was enough for Kohli to
move on to his 15th Test century and then orchestrate a final session
milking of the England attack. Cook delayed the use of the second new
ball until midway through the 130th over but given his team's abject
fielding - Vijay survived a stumping chance on 45, Kohli was dropped by
Rashid on 68 and Jayant off the third delivery with the second new ball -
England had little hopes of denying India.
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Jayant
meandered along to 30 in an 87-run stand with Kohli as the Indian
captain, having played the situation all along, allowed himself the
luxury of some showboating. He did however ensure he hung around until
the end to make England dread the prospect of the final two days on a
wicket that should entice Ashwin & Co.
Brief scores: England
400 (Keaton Jennings 112, Jos Buttler 76; Ravichandran Ashwin 6-112,
Ravindra Jadeja 4-109) trail India 451/7 (Virat Kohli 147*, Murali Vijay
136; Joe Root 2-18, Moeen Ali 2-139) by 51 run
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