Chennai: A strokeful unbeaten half century by Rohit sharma helped India to 106 form three in 26 overs at lunch of the opening day of the second cricket test against England here today.
At the break, Rohit Sharma was batting on 80 off 78 balls with 13 fours and a pulled six to square leg fence off medium pacer Ben Stokes and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane on five.
India started badly losing opener Subman Gill (0) recovered through an 85-run second wicket stand between Rohit and Cheteswar Pujara (21, 58 balls, 2×4) in 18.5 overs, before lost two quick wickets, including that of skipper Virat Kohli, as the honours were evenly shared.
For England, the pacy Olly Stone, left arm spinner Jack Leach and offie Moeen Ali claimed a wicket each.
It was an eventful and entertaining first session as a good crowd, back into the stadium for the first time post the covid pandemic, enjoyed the every moment.
After having lost the first test by 227 runs, Virat Kohli won the crucial toss on a wicket that was expected to take turn on the very first day, and chose to bat first.
But the start was not that good as opener Shubman Gill shouldered arms to a ball that came in from rookie Olly Stone, and was trapped in front.
Playing in his just second test, Stone, who came in for an injured Jofra Archer, generated good place, while Rohit Sharma, who made his intentions clear, virtually hit another pacer, the lanky Stuart Broad–in for James Anderson–out of the attack.
Rohit cut, drove and pulled and also swept the spinners effectively.
After Rohit pulled Broad to square leg fence for a six and a four off successive balls, spin was introduced as early as in ninth over as left arm spinner Jack Leach got good turn and bounce.
While Rohit mixed caution with aggression, Cheteswar Pujara, who came in after the exit of Gill, was in usual self, playing with a straight bat, though he once stepped out to flick experienced off-spinner Mooen Ali, who came in for Dom Bess, to the mid-wicket.
However, England managed to break the shackles when Pujara placed a forward defensive shot to Leach and the outside edge was held by Ben Stokes low to his left in the slip after Rohit, who dominated the second wicket stand, reached his 50 in just 47 balls.
Kohli arrived to a cheering crowd, but lasted only five balls as he fell for a rare duck. He missed well flighted delivery from Moeen Ali and was bowled through the gate as India lost two wickets in six balls, being reduced to 86 for three in 21.2 overs.
Rahane, who drove Mooen Ali to the extra cover fence of the first ball he faced, and Rohit also swept him to the mid-wicket fence as runs came in brisk space.
India reached 100 when Rohit hit a straight drive off Leach before the players adjourned for lunch.
With some balls skidding on and keeping low, and also e turning so very sharply, it would be a battle of attrition between the England spinners and the Indian batters.
Following is the scoreboard:
India (first innings) :
Rohit sharma (batting) 80
Shubman Gill lbw Stone 0
Cheteswar Pujara c Stokes b Jack Leach 21
Virat Kohli b Moeen Ali 0
Ajinkya Rahane (batting) 5
Total : 106 for three in 26 overs.
Fall of wickets : 1-0, 2-85, 3-86.
Bowling :
Stuart Broad 4-1-21-0
Olly Stone 5-2-14-1
Jack Leach 9-1-23-1
Ben Stokes 2-0-16-0
Moeen Ali 6-0-32-1.