India vs England 2021: Rohit Sharma’s 161 headlines day 1 as India reach 300/6

On a Chennai pitch that was vastly different to the one where the first Test was played, India ended the first day day of the second Test the happier of the two sides after a mammoth hundred from opener Rohit Sharma. India had earlier won the toss and opted to bat first as they handed a debut to Axar Patel while also bringing in Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav instead of Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah and Shahbaz Nadeem.

India’s day however, couldn’t have got off to a worse start than it did as they lost Shubman Gill for a duck in just the second over off Olly Stone‘s bowling. However, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara consolidated the innings in the first session to ensure the nerves were done away with. Just as it looked like India would get to lunch without losing a further wicket, disaster struck.

Rohit-Rahane stand takes India to a position of strength

Cheteshwar Pujara was removed by Jack Leach just before lunch and so was Virat Kohli for a duck off Moeen Ali‘s bowling. The pitch seemed to be doing a lot of its tricks on the very first day itself and Kohli was stunned by one such delivery that turned sharply. It was then that Ajinkya Rahane joined Rohit Sharma and the two were involved in a massive partnership. The second session was wicketless for England as Rohit got to his century.

Rahane too got to his fifty but England came roaring back in the third session to remove the two set batsmen before also removing Ravichandran Ashwin. Rishabh Pant was at in his element for India however, as he kept finding the boundaries regularly. He ended the day unbeaten along with debutant Axar Patel with the score at 300/6.

Scores

Total – 300/6 in 88 overs

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