CRICKET
4th Test: Rohit Sharma ton puts India ahead
India have regained control of the 4th Test against England after a shaky start, courtesy a brilliant comeback in the second innings.
The visitors have taken back control of the game with an incredible turnaround.
Kohli has turned the tables on his English counterpart, Joe Root, and the visitors seem poised to make it 2-1.
After the Oval Test, India and England will settle their feud at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in the fifth and final game of the series.
Sharma writes history at Oval
Day 3 of the 4th Test belonged to India comprehensively.
After not making a huge impact in the first inning, Rohit Sharma ensured to register a 127-run knock in the second innings.
This was the Hitman’s first-ever century outside India.
Even India captain Virat Kohli was seen excited to have his opener set the tone for the rest of the batters to follow.
After KL Rahul departed for 46, Sharma steadied the ship for the visitors.
He and Cheteshwa Pujara built a sublime partnership to put the English pace cartel to shame.
Joe Root put Moeen Ali to work in the middle overs, but in-form Pujara and Sharma dealt him with ease.
Ali went for 63 runs in 15 overs. His 4.20 economy is below his standards.
At 94*, Sharma struck a huge six on the log-off region to reach his ton at the Oval.
Ollie Robinson soon dismissed him with a slower one that baffled the Hitman.
He chipped to the cow corner and threw his wicket away cheaply.
Nonetheless, the brilliant start by the Sharma-Rahul duo, coupled with Pujara’s fighting 61 has put India ahead of the hosts.
India now lead by 171 runs at 270/3 in the second half. Skipper Kohli is at the crease (22*) with Ravi Jadeja (9*).
India bounce back out of nowhere
The way England bounced out India in the first inning at 191, it seemed like the hosts will not make a strong return to the game.
Virat Kohli had backed his men to make it big after losing the Headingley Test and they’ve made him proud in the game so far.
Losing just three wickets for 270 is no joke at Oval against the likes of Jimmy Anderson, Chris Woakes, and Ollie Robinson.
Butter fingers let India dominate
England’s slip cordon that usually includes Joe Root, Rory Burns and Craig Overton, dropped six catches in the second innings.
Some of them were arguably hard grabs, but the dropped chances let the Indian openers settle for long.
The commentators pointed out the wide stances of most slip fielders and that might be something that England’s coaching staff will look at later.
What’s at stake for Kohli
Kohli has been lured into England’s trap almost every time he has come into bat this series.
The India captain has been vulnerable when it comes to dealing with deliveries on the off stump.
He looked to end his ton drought in the last game, but he returned to the hut right after scoring a fifty.
He has picked momentum in his second innings and got to 22 runs in a jiffy.
After a shaky start dealing with inswingers of Anderson, the Indian captain will have another chance to go for a big Test ton and shut his critics up.
India 191 and 270 for 3 (Rohit 127, Pujara 61) lead England 290 by 171 runs