India close in on victory against England

The all-rounder, who bowls off-spin and more than a handy batsman, did no wrong in his debut Test.

However, if Cook’s men were to surpass their 404 target on Monday, it would be the highest run chase in the fourth innings in India of all time, overwriting the 387 India chased ironically against England back in 2008 in Chennai.

“Maybe in three-four years time I can analyse how much load I am feeling but at the moment’s coming along nicely so I am pretty okay with it”, Kohli said after leading India to a massive 246-run win in the second cricket Test against England.

“When it comes to Test cricket, our bowlers and as a team we are prepared to be in a situation where we have to work hard for our wickets but when we see a victory, we know that we can get eight more wickets”.

But Broad claims England have enduring belief they can claim a draw and head north for the third Test still all square.

Ashwin again almost added the scalp of Root in his next over – given out caught behind, but it was overturned after Root reviewed straight away and with clear daylight shown between bat and ball. “It’s a pretty basic thing to do to be honest and if you don’t, it’s very hard in the fourth innings to play out four and half sessions”. Ravichandran Ashwin took three wickets with an economic rate of 1.73 while debutant Jayant Yadav took three wickets with an economic rate of 2.60.

“It’s all about first innings runs and trying to get parity”. “Stuck it out in the end as well, Shami and him added about 45 for the last wicket”. It speaks volumes of his character. India settled with the total score of 204 for all wickets.

They need to bat out of their skins to avoid defeat, and their hopes would be pinned on Root – their in-form batsman who scored a fine half century in the first innings.

Moeen Ali made just two before he was caught at backward short leg off Jadeja as India began to tighten the screws.

Kohli’s rotating bowlers was executed brilliantly as the first four scalps on the final day were picked by four different bowlers – Shami, Jayant Yadav, Jadeja and Ashwin.

Root, dropped by Virat Kohli at leg-slip off Ashwin, later used the DRS to reverse a caught-behind decision against the same bowler. He first trapped Stuart Broad (5) LBW, and then dismissed James Anderson for a golden duck in a similar manner as England went for reviews but in vain.