WATCH – Rohit Sharma gets dismissed for 49 by an in-swinger from Ben Stokes

India were put in a spot of bother in their first innings during the fourth and final test against England as they kept losing regular wickets. The ongoing test is extremely crucial in the given circumstances of the World Test Championship (WTC) and the qualification for the final at Lord’s as India need to avoid defeat to ensure that they make it to face New Zealand in the same. If they end up losing the test, it would be Australia facing their trans-Tasman neighbours.

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Despite the seemingly strong position that India were in at the end of day 1, they were dealt a reality check on day 2 as the English seamers James Anderson and Ben Stokes exploited the conditions that slightly favored them to perfection and troubled the Indian batsmen. Although India would still fancy their chances of winning the test, it would definitely not be a walk in the park.

WATCH – Ben Stokes dismisses Rohit Sharma

Replying to the visitors’ score of 205, India were pegged back on day 1 when Shubman Gill was dismissed for a duck. Even as Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara steadied the ship, there was still uncertainty and tentativeness in India’s batting. The same was exposed on day 2 as wickets kept falling. The likes of Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane couldn’t deliver. Kohli especially was stunned by a Ben Stokes bouncer that got him out for a duck. Despite the wickets falling at the other end, Rohit Sharma held firm and got his way to a patient 49. He was dismissed in the second session by a brute of a delivery from Stokes that swung in late and trapped him in front.

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The LBW didn’t look plumb and Rohit sent the decision upstairs. The hawkeye showed that there were two umpire’s calls – both on impact as well as hitting the wickets. The opener thus, fell agonizingly short of what would have been another well-made fifty.

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