Rohit Sharma gave India the advantage on Day 1 of the 2nd Test at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai, with the hosts closing on 300-6 on an action packed day.
It was England however that landed the first blow of the day, Olly Stone who was making just his 2nd Test appearance in place of the injured Jofra Archer, removing Shubman Gill with the score still on 0. Gill misjudged a length delivery from the Warwickshire pacer which nipped back and wrapped him on the front pad as he shouldered arms. Umpire Nitin Menon had no doubts and raised the finger. Gill pondered a review but following a brief conversation with opening partner Sharma, wisely decided against the idea.
Sharma was however unfazed by the early loss of his opening partner, and soon set about England's new ball pair driving boundaries through the covers and down the ground with both power and placement, once Jack Leach was introduced to the attack Sharma made full use of the sweep shot hitting the fence at deep backward square whenever the Somerset man went too full. Sharma dominated the 2nd wicket partnership he shared with Che Pujara, with the opener reaching 50 from just 47 deliveries including eight fours and a maximum. Leach would however end their stand when he removed Pujura, Ben Stokes taking a sharp low chance at slip to leave the hosts 85-2.
What followed an over later will stay long in the minds of all that witnessed it. Moeen Ali on his return to the side having been out since 2019 produced a classic off spinner that drifted away from Kohli and then turned back sharply beating the Indian captain's ambitious cover drive and trimmed the bails from the top of the stumps. Kohli looked dumbfounded and disbelieving that Ali could produce such a delivery he refused to leave the middle. England knew they had the prize scalp of the opposition captain and began themselves to look slightly bemused as Kohli still refused to walk, it wasn't until a replay was shown on the big screen that Kohli would accept his fate and depart. Within minutes WG Grace was trending on Twitter along with his immortal quote of "they came to see me bat, not you umpire" that he is alleged to have said having been given lbw first ball during an exhibition match and proceeded to continue his innings. Had Kohli stayed in the middle much longer the groundsman may have been required to start up his tractor and drag Kohli from the field of play.
India were now wobbling at 86-3 but even this did not deter Sharma as he continued to play the bowlers with an ease no other batsman could come close to matching, and he had made 80 out of 106 when the players broke for Lunch.
He and vice captain Ajinkya Rahane would then forge a partnership of 162 as England went wicketless during the afternoon session. Despite a couple of false strokes in the 90's Sharma completed a 7th Test century from just 130 balls with the score on 147-3, his innings included 14 boundary fours and two maximums and the hosts comfortably took the score to 189-3 at Tea with Sharma on 132 & Rahane 36.
Rahane passed 50 and Sharma 150 for the 4th time in his Test career before the days controversies returned. Leach produced a fine delivery that drew Sharma forward before spinning past his outside edge and Ben Foakes whipped the bails off in a flash. The original side on replay was inconclusive but rather than asking for a zoomed in view, 3rd Umpire Anil Chaudhary declared his compatriot not out. Leach would get his man in his next over when Sharma who had swept so well all day top edged one and found Moeen in the deep and the Worcestershire man made no mistake.
Further controversy followed eight deliveries later as England had Rahane caught at short leg by Ollie Pope off Leach's bowling. On field Umpire Virender Sharma gave it not out and England reviewed. 3rd Umpire Chaudhary checked the initial phase of the ball passing the bat and found nothing on the snickometer and proceeded to check for lbw. Finding in Rahane's favour on both grounds he gave his decision as not out. However replays showed that following the ball striking Rahane on the pad the ball then looped up taking him on the glove and a clean catch was taken by Pope. Despite the protestations of England captain Joe Root, the on field umpires refused to get the 3rd umpire to re check for this and Rahane survived. Match Referee Javagal Srinath would later reinstate England's review.
Perhaps consumed by guilt Rahane tried a sweep shot off Moeen Ali in the next over, a shot he rarely plays and connected with nothing but fresh air as the ball crashed into middle stump to end his stay for 67 with India 249-5 and the 3rd umpire had at least not inflicted too much damage through his ineptitude.
We were now into Leach v Pant Round 2, Pant had won Round 1 in the 1st Test convincingly and Root had to remove his man from the attack when he had figures of 0-80 from 8 overs. This time around Pant played in exactly the same manner scything a cut shot through point for four, before dancing down the track to loft Leach over long on for a maximum and Root removed his man from the firing line once more, turning to his own part time off breaks instead.
England thought they had Pant a couple of overs later when he was given caught behind off Moeen but he reviewed immediately and the replays showed clear daylight between bat and ball and the decision was reversed.
Root would get England's sixth wicket of the day when he dismissed Ravi Ashwin for 13 caught by Pope at short leg. Ashwin advanced at the England captain but his defensive prod offered Pope the simplest of chances and he made no mistake. Pant and debutant Axar Patel would then see India through to stumps with no further alarms.
England will want an early breakthrough in the morning and to wrap the Indian innings up for less than 350. India though have put themselves in the box seat on Day 1 and a score above 350 will have England fighting for their lives on a pitch that is already playing more like a Day 4 wicket than Day 1. England toiled admirably to be fair not conceding an extra all day and took the chances that came their way and will be reasonably pleased with their efforts. India in the main batted nicely but Day 1 belongs to Rohit Sharma who seemed to be playing on a different deck to everyone else and has given his side the early advantage.
13 Feb 2021
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