Fri 18 Nov 2016, 10:36:22

India gained massive advantage over England after Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara struck sparkling hundreds on the opening day of the second Test.Pujara (119, 275m, 204b, 12x4, 2x6) stroked his way to a third consecutive century in as many Tests after his unbeaten 101 against New Zealand in Indore and 124 against England in Rajkot. Kohli made his 50th Test a memorable one with an undefeated 151 (241b, 15x4) that lifted India to an impressive 317 for four at close on an extended day here at the ACA-VDCA YSR Stadium on Thursday.

While Kohli notched up his 14th Test hundred, the second most in the first 50 Tests by an Indian behind Sunil Gavaskar’s 20, Pujara brought up his 10th career century. India, however, would be a bit disappointed to have lost a well-set Ajinkya Rahane (23) in the penultimate over of the day to the second new ball.

The day began on a bright note for India, who handed Test debut to off-spinner Jayant Yadav while including K L Rahul in the starting XI in place of leg-spinner Amit Mishra and Gautam Gambhir respectively. Yadav, incidentally, had made his ODI debut at this venue only last month against New Zealand.

Kohli may have breathed a sigh of relief when he won the toss, and promptly opted to bat first on what appeared a dry surface. M Vijay began confidently, flicking James Anderson to fine-leg boundary. Rahul, coming on the back of 76 and 105 against Rajasthan in Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy match, returned without opening his account. The opener went feeling for a Stuart Broad delivery and nicked to Ben Stokes at second slip, lasting just five balls. Vijay, however, looked unfazed and played some delectable shots, his drive through extra cover off Broad being the pick of his strokes. The right-hander, seemingly untroubled during his short stay, was undone by an Anderson special that took off after pitching. Vijay tried to fend it off but the ball ballooned off his glove for Stokes to complete the catch.

With both the openers gone at 22,

India needed two of their more experienced batsmen to carry on after winning a good toss. Kohli and Pujara did just that to put India in a position from where they can afford to dictate terms to England. Not unlike England in the first innings of the first Test, the rub of the green went India’s way here. Kohli was dropped by Adil Rashid at fine-leg off Stokes on 56 while a while earlier Pujara had narrowly escaped from being run out after a terrible mix-up with his captain – only a desperate dive and a poor throw saving him. The batsman was on 22 then.

Barring these minor blips, Kohli and Pujara were in firm control of the proceedings. Kohli was the dominant of the two to begin with but Pujara matched his partner shot for shot in the second session. Walking in as early as in the sixth over of the innings with both openers back in the change room, Kohli remained oblivious to the situation. His intent was positive from the outset and he appeared determined not to allow the English attack to build on the early momentum. While Kohli’s urgency in the opening session took the pressure off Pujara, in the post-lunch period, both batsmen went on the attack.

Scoreboard

INDIA (I Innings)

Vijay c Stokes b Anderson 20

(26m, 21b, 4x4)

Rahul c Stokes b Broad 0

(9m, 5b)

Pujara c Bairstow b Anderson 119

(204b, 275m, 12x4, 2x6)

Kohli (batting) 151

(352m, 241b, 15x4)

Rahane c Bairstow b Anderson 23

(87m, 61b, 2x4)