Twitter Reactions: India in command after setting a target of 521 runs

England still need a mammoth 498 runs.

By Aditya Gajanan Kukalyekar verified

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5 Min Read

Virat Kohli
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India captain Virat Kohli bats watched by England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

It was all India on the third day of the ongoing third Test. Virat Kohli slammed his 23rd century in the longest format even as Cheteshwar Pujara and Hardik Pandya struck form with contrasting half-centuries. The hapless England bowlers were made to toil hard in the field for 110 overs in the second innings and visibly they too were waiting for the declaration which many thought was delayed.

The day began with the visitors leading by 292 runs. Pujara and Kohli strode out to the middle and were in no hurry whatsoever. The gloomy and overcast conditions helped the bowl to swing but the hosts couldn’t breach the defences of the two batsmen. They batted out a whole session and added only 70 runs which had strengthened India’s position even more.

Meanwhile, England had dealt with a major blow on the field. Jonny Bairstow was injured while collecting the ball behind the wickets. The late swing had accounted for his left finger as he also left the field grimacing in pain. Later he went to the hospital for an X-ray as well and it was revealed that his left middle-finger has been fractured.

Kohli stamps his authority

The toil continued for England in the post-lunch session as well. Amidst the gloomy weather, there was hope finally for them as Pujara edged one off Ben Stokes for 72 after which Ajinkya Rahane came in to bat. Kohli, on the other hand, was in no fuss and continued what he was doing. He got a few bad deliveries and no doubt he punished those as well. Finally, the moment came in the last session when Kohli was in the 90s and the ball was in the hand of James Anderson.

The veteran managed to get the edge this time but the slip fielder Keaton Jennings failed to latch on to him to leave him frustrated. Soon Kohli was raising the bat after notching up his second ton of the series. He was straightaway sent back after the feat by Chris Woakes on 103 and began the mind games about the declaration.

Rishabh Pant‘s promotion didn’t go well as he was dismissed by Anderson only for a run. Hardik Pandya played beautifully and backed his five-wicket haul and scored a run-a-ball 50 to stretch the lead past 500. Eventually, India declared on 352/7 with a massive lead of 520 runs.

Cook and Jennings negotiate

Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings had to face the brunt for being the openers as they had to negotiate a tricky period of nine overs. The duo managed to play those out, not comfortably though. Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma bowled probing lines and lengths to keep them on the tenterhooks. Even Ravi Ashwin was brought into the attack, but both the left-handers were up for the task as England finished the day on 23/0.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the course of play:

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