India v England 4th Test, Day 4 – 5 Talking Points

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Virat Kohli
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Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: BCCI)

Virat Kohli continued his dominance against the English bowlers as India finished Day 4 of the 4th Test at Mumbai in a position of strength. Beginning the day at 451/7, the duo of Virat and Jayant Yadav stitched together a mammoth 241-run partnership for the 8th wicket to put the visitors on the backfoot. It was a brilliant display of batsmanship by both Kohli and Jayant as they took India’s first innings score to 631, 231 ahead of England’s first innings total.

With a big 1st innings lead, Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck in his very first over removing the centurion from the 1st innings Keaton Jennings with a beautiful inswinger. Ravindra Jadeja who was brought in as the 1st change spinner by Kohli didn’t disappoint his captain as he dismissed opposition captain Alastair Cook and Moeen Ali in quick succession.

Ravichandran Ashwin came to his own during the later stages of the day and got rid of Ben Stokes and Jake Ball to leave the visitors tottering at 182/6. With still, 49 runs adrift of India’s score England will have to play exceptional cricket if they have to have any chances of saving the Test match. Here are 5 talking points from Day 4 of the 4th Test.

1. Virat Kohli’s brilliant double century

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli carried on from where he left on the 3rd day and notched up yet another 150 in his Test career. He literally toyed with the English bowling line-up despite the pitch offering prodigious turn. He was hardly troubled by any bowlers as he went on piling the agony on England.

“The Modern Master” reached his double century by flicking an Adil Rashid delivery to the leg side. Just couple of overs prior to that, James Anderson missed a tough return catch of Kohli as he went on to make full use of the dropped chance. After reaching his 3rd double ton of the year Kohli took on the English bowlers and started taking risk. He was eventually dismissed for 235 in a bid to score quick runs. He struck 25 fours and a solitary six en route to his 3rd Test double century.

2. Jayant Yadav’s brilliant century

Ever since making his Test debut in the 2nd Test at Vizag, Jayant Yadav looked like someone who belonged at the highest level. He has looked pretty solid in the middle especially for a batsman batting as low as No.8 in the star-studded batting line-up.

Jayant who scored a terrific half-century in the Mohali Test continued his dream debut series and piled on the agony on the English bowlers by sharing a humungous 241-run partnership with the captain for the 8th wicket. The young man looked in complete control of the proceedings and there was a time when he outscored Kohli.

The talented all-rounder reached his century by guiding an outside the off stump delivery by Chris Woakes to the third man for a single. He was dismissed by Adil Rashid at the score of 104 but not before he and Kohli had taken India to a position of dominance.

3. Adil Rashid’s long spell

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid bowled his heart out despite going for runs and finished with figures of 4/192 in 55.3 overs. There was a point of time in the match when the leggie bowled as many as 30 overs on the trot which was perhaps a bit hard on the youngster. Rashid had already dismissed Jadeja and Murali Vijay on Day 3 and added more to his kitty by wiping out the Indian tail.

Kohli and Jayant lost their wickets in a bid to score quick runs. Rashid lured Yadav into an expansive drive and had him stumped after the all-rounder had scored his maiden Test century. Rashid also dismissed Bhuvneshwar Kumar caught off Woakes to put down the curtains on India’s first innings.

4. India get it wrong with DRS

Despite going through a purple patch in his career, Virat is yet to make full use of the Decision Review System and must be very careful when he decides to go for a review. Throughout the series, we have seen Kohli going for unrealistic reviews and his teammates have not helped him a single bit. The spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja is also after the captain to go for a review and it was quite evident on the 4th day of the 4th Test.

First, it was Root’s decision which Kohli chose to review when the television screen clearly showed that the ball was far away from the bat. It was really a waste of a review in a crucial juncture of the match. It was not the end of dubious reviews as he went for yet another, this time of Jonny Bairstow.

Yadav had bowled a flighted off break delivery which turned sharply and hit Bairstow on the front pad. Though it was a close call, the prodigious turn in the pitch took the ball away from the stumps. It meant Kohli & Co. had lost all their reviews and have to wait until the 80 overs to get them back.

5. Spinners cast their spell

The India spinners were quite brilliant and looked far better than their English counterparts. On a pitch where Kohli and Jayant added 241 runs, the English bowlers were struggling and it was quite evident from the way they approached the Indian spin trio.

Jadeja was the first among the spinners to strike and dismissed Alastair Cook and Moeen Ali in quick succession. The dismissal of Cook was a classic one as he kept on bowling him outside the off stump and cramped him for room by sliding down a faster one which struck him in front of the stumps. Jayant Yadav carried on from his brilliant hundred and dismissed Joe Root during a crucial juncture of the game. It was a much-needed wicket for Team India after Root and Bairstow had shared a 91-run partnership for the 4th wicket.

Ashwin was at his usual best and picked two crucial wickets during the closing juncture of the day. His twin victims – Ben Stokes and Jake Ball left the visitors tottering at 182/6, still requiring 49 runs more to make India bat again.

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