Five overs left for stumps as India would be hoping to avoid any more setbacks before close.

Rahul taps Anderson on the leg side for one and Rahane glances the third ball to fine leg for a single to get off the mark.

Rahul takes a couple of steps down the track and drives Anderson in some style through the covers for a four.

In the next over, Rahane chases a wide delivery as he gets a thick outside edge but well short of the fielder in the gully.

A few balls later Rahane is struck on the pads by the incoming delivery but the leg before shout is turned down. England take the review but the ball is missing the stumps as they lose another review.

Sam Curran, who struggled in his first few spells, gets the second new ball ahead of Wood.

Rahul defends the first ball and leaves the next before taking a single to point and Rahane watchfully defends the rest of the over.

Rahul happy to play for stumps as he taps Robinson on the leg side for one to get off strike.

Rahane chases a wide delivery, playing away from his body, only to get the edge which falls well short of the slips.

Another beauty from Robinson which beats Rahane as he pokes before the last ball which comes in strikes him on the pads but the leg before shout is turned down.

Curran to bowl the final over. Rahul happy to take a single off the first ball and Rahane pushes the next to square leg but can't get the run.

A watchful Rahane bats defensively before he throws his bat at the last ball and is lucky not to have edged it.

Rahul finishes unbeaten on a wonderful innings of 127 as India reach 276/3 at stumps on Day 1.

The opener did well to bat through the entire day, starting off cautiously in the morning session before opening up in the next two session.

Kohli and Rahul have a mix-up as they attempt a quick single but in the end they make the single easily as the fielder at point misfields.

The next ball from Anderson is short as Rahul rocks back and slaps it past point for a four before taking a single to point.

Some extra bounce for Anderson as Kohli gets the edge but it falls short of the slips.

However, the India captain luck runs out as he falls in the next over.

Kohli pokes his bat outside the off-stump and gets the edge to be caught by Joe Root for 42, after he put on 117 runs for the third wicket with Rahul.

That is a huge boost for England late on the first day as they make the new ball count.

No nightwatchman for India as Ajinkya Rahane comes in at No 5.

England's hopes now rest on the second new ball. A single each to Kohli and Rahul off Moeen's 13th over as India keep the scoreboard moving along.

Rahul steers Wood on the off-side for a single to raise the 100-run stand for the third wicket as India also bring up their 250 in the 80th over.

Kohli picks the pacer's third ball to midwicket for one and Rahul opens the face of the bat and steers the next to thirdman for a single.

India reach 252/2 in 80 overs as no surprise that England take the second new ball immediately.

Robinson comes back for a new spell with the new ball. He is on the mark first ball, the full delivery which swings away sharply to beat the well-set Rahul.

The next ball is clipped through square leg for two runs and he hits a stylish drive through the covers off the third for a four.

Another full pitched delivery but this time the cover drive goes to the fielder and keeps out the last two balls.

Anderson, the only wicket-taker for England on the first day so far, comes back from the other end.

He is up against Kohli, who has got his eye in and looks much more settled at the crease.

Kohli defends the first ball before he clips the next to fine leg for a single.

Rahul plays a tired looking pull shot as he hits it uppishly on the leg side for a single to fine leg.

Kohli pushes Moeen on the off-side for a single before Rahul inside edges the next on to his pads before he takes one off the third.

Moeen not making any impression with the ball so far as Kohli easily plays out the last three balls.

In the next over, Rahul taps Wood to point for a single to inch closer to his century.

Another single to Kohli before Rahul times the cover drive to perfection for a four to take his score to 98.

An angry Wood responds with the bouncer which Rahul avoids and blocks the next followed by another leave.

Kohli drives the full delivery from Moeen through the covers for a couple. The fourth ball stays low as Kohli gets an inside edge which sneaks between the keeper's pads for a four. There was some noise as the ball passed the stumps as Kohli had a narrow escape.

In the next over, Rahul cuts the short ball from Wood behind point for a four to bring up his century, from 212 balls.

This is his sixth Test century as he continues his golden run with the bat.

He pulls the next ball fine for a single and Kohli gets one off the fifth ball.

Kohli takes a couple of steps down the track and hits Moeen straight down the ground past mid-on for a four.

He clips the fifth ball with the spin on the leg side to take the score to 222/2.

Rahul punches the short ball from Moeen down to long-on for another run as India continue to build their total. India are looking set for a huge total as they build on their good start after winning the toss.

In the next over, Rahul inside edges Robinson for a single before Kohli shuffles across and gets an inside edge on to the pads. The last ball is clipped uppishly but between two close-in fielders on the leg side.

The last drinks break of the day is taken.

Moeen continues after the drinks break. Rahul tries to cut but can't get it off the middle and gets one off the next ball. Kohli watchfully plays out the rest of the over with caution.

Pacer Wood comes back into the attack in place of Robinson. The first ball is blocked by Rahul who then takes a single to fine leg.

Kohli hangs his bat out to the wide delivery and is beaten before he tries a quick single to fine leg but is beaten but he steers the last ball to thirdman for one.

Kohli gets a huge stride forward and drives the wide delivery from Robinson through the covers for a four.

Another good drive on the off-side from Kohli but this time to the fielder before he takes a single on the leg side.

Spinner Moeen is back into the attack. Kohli carefully defends the first two balls and then takes a single as he plays it with the spin on the leg side.

Rahul takes one off the fifth ball and Kohli keeps strike with another run off the last ball.

Robinson continues as Kohli offers no shot to the first two balls and then takes a single to mid-off before Rahul also picks one past point.

Kohli gets a thick inside edge which goes uppishly on the leg side but falls safely to get him another run.

Rahul is beaten trying to defend Curran as wicketkeeper Buttler appeals for caught behind but the umpire is not interested.

He then takes a single on the off-side before Kohli tries to clip Curran fine on the leg side but misses.

Wood bowls it short to Rahul who nudges it on the leg side for a single. Another bouncer but Kohli is happy to duck under it and blocks the next.

Wood keeps it short again as Kohli ducks under and ignores the next before blocking the last ball on the leg side.

Curran from round the wicket slips the ball down the leg side as Rahul misses the glance before he pushes the next to gully.

Rahul flicks a full delivery through midwicket for two runs before he is beaten last ball as he tries to defend.

Kohli chases a wide delivery from Curran and is beaten before he takes a single from the next ball. Rahul steers a wide delivery past point for another easy single.

Wood keeps it short to Rahul, as it goes down the leg side with the right-hander nudging it fine for a couple.

Another short ball and this time Rahul avoids it before he takes a single on the off-side.

Kohli defends the fourth ball before he leaves the next followed by another solid block.

Curran from round the wicket looks to dart the ball into Rahul, who taps it to point for one to take his score into the 80s. Kohli drives the second ball into the covers for a single before the pacer bowls it down the leg side.

Curran gets the ball to jag away late as Rahul hangs his bat out and is beaten before he takes a single from the last ball.

Kohli and Rahul have batted relatively trouble free except for a few play and misses in between.

Kohli clips Wood for two runs to bring up India's 200 and also raise the 50-run stand for the third wicket.

He drives the fourth ball into the covers where the fielder fails to stop it and ends up conceding another couple of runs.

Anderson drops short as Rahul goes for the pull shot but misses and is hit on the body.

The next ball is pitched up as Rahul drives it through the covers for a four and blocks the last ball on the leg side.

Left-arm pacer Curran comes back into the attack. Kohli drives the first ball into the covers as the fielder does well to keep the ball inside the ropes and keep it down to three.

Curran gifts the well-set Rahul a wide half-volley which is driven in style through the covers for a four.

The next ball is again hit through the off-side but there is a fielder placed in a deep as Rahul gets just a single this time.

Wood comes back into the attack in place of Anderson. Rahul leaves the first two balls pitched wide before he takes a single to midwicket.

Kohli also does the same, leaving the first two balls and clips the last ball to fine leg for one.

India progress to 189/2 in 60 overs with Rahul on 75 and Kohli on eight.

Robinson gets the ball to jag in sharply as Kohli clips it through square leg for a couple to get off the mark and register his first runs in the series.

Kohli defends the third ball to mid-off and then flicks a full delivery to midwicket for one.

In the next over, Kohli goes after the wide delivery from Anderson as he pushes it into the covers for a single.

Rahul is beaten as he hangs his bat out before he taking one to square leg.

Kohli plays and misses off the last ball as Anderson bowls another beauty to make the batsman play before the late movement makes the ball go past the edge.

A good short ball from Robinson as Rahul is hurried into the pull shot which he miscues fine on the leg side for a four.

He pushes the second ball into the leg side and takes an easy single.

Kohli goes for the pull shot but misses before Robinson sprays the last ball way down the leg side as wicketkeeper Buttler is unable to get to the ball to concede four byes.

Ollie Robinson starts off with the ball in the final session. The first ball moves away as Kohli pokes away from his body and is beaten.

He gets behind the next ball and defends it and does well to leave the next two balls which are pitched wide.

There is a huge appeal for caught behind as Kohli is beaten off the last ball but the appeal is turned down and England decide against the review.

Rahul continues to find the gaps. This time he steers the wide delivery from Anderson past gully for a four. He defends the next ball and then avoids the fifth ball withdrawing his bat at the last minute.

KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma hit half-centuries to guide India to 157/2 at tea on Day 1 of the second Test at Lord's on Thursday.

Rahul continued his good form as he was unbeaten on 55 -- his second successive fifty, while Virat Kohli was yet to score at the tea interval on the first day.

Rohit gave India the perfect start as he stroked his way to a fluent 83, hitting 11 fours and a six in his 145-ball knock, putting on 126 for the opening wicket with Rahul after India were put into bat.

Veteran James Anderson, who passed a late fitness test, helped England fight back with his two wickets.

He got Rohit bowled with the incoming delivery, while Cheteshwar Pujara was caught in the slips for nine.

After the morning session was delayed by rain, there were no interruptions in the post-lunch session.

India did well to score 111 runs in 33.2 overs while losing two wickets in the second session.

Robinson comes back into the attack. Pujara looks to flick the first ball but misses and he offers no shot to the last five balls as Robinson sends down a maiden over.

Anderson continues as Rahul inside edges the second ball to square leg for one and Pujara drives a full inswinger straight back past the bowler for a couple.

Anderson strikes again with the wicket of Pujara, who hangs his bat out and gets the edge to be caught in the slips for nine.

Pujara failed to learn from his mistake after he got the edge in the previous over from Anderson which went through the slips for a four.

But this time the edge carried straight to Bairstow at third slip as Anderson made Pujara play by bowling wide of the stumps.

Another failure for Pujara as he walks back after scoring just nine.

Rahul steers the wide delivery from Wood past the gully fielder for a couple of runs. Three balls later he punches a short wide delivery square on the off-side for a four.

Rahul seems to have changed gears. He goes after a wide delivery, playing a loose shot and gets a thick outside edge past gully for another four, to take his score into the 40s.

Anderson has a huge appeal for leg before wicket turned down against Pujara, who looks to defend off the backfoot and is hit on the front pad.

Root takes a long time to think before he takes the review with two seconds left.

The incoming delivery strikes Pujara high on the pads above the knee roll and as expected the ball is going over the stumps as England lose their review.

Pujara gets off the mark with a single before Rahul flicks the third ball through midwicket for three runs.

Pujara will take his time to get going as he leaves the last three balls with Anderson going wide.

Rahul plays a nice straight drive but Wood manages to stop it on his follow through before the right-hander gets an inside edge for a single.

Pujara retains strike with another easy single on the leg side off the last ball.

In the next over, Pujara pokes at the wide outswinger from Anderson and gets the edge which goes past the slip cordon for a four.

Two balls later, he hits a wide delivery past the fielder at point for one.

Rahul finally decides to break the shackles. He comes down the track and lofts Moeen down the ground for a six over long-off, for his first boundary of the innings after 108 balls.

He watchfully defends the next few balls and then takes a single off the fifth ball through the covers.

The clouds are back as Anderson comes back into the attack. Rahul takes a quick single off the first ball and Rohit defends the next couple of balls and is then beaten outside the off-stump as he hangs his bat out.

Wood, who bowled a sharp first spell of five overs, comes back into the attack.

Rahul again turns the strike over with a single to point and Rohit takes one off the next delivery.

Rahul drives the fourth ball through the covers for two runs and is then beaten trying to play the pull shot and then ducks under a short ball.

Anderson makes the breakthrough with the key wicket of Rohit, who is bowled after a fine innings of 83, hitting 11 fours and a six in his 145-ball knock.

Rohit looked all set for his first Test century away from home but Anderson foiled his plans with a superb incoming delivery. The ball comes in sharply and beats Rohit, who tries to defend but it goes off the back pad on to the off-stump.

Rahul cuts the first ball from Moeen but can't get it in the gap. He is then beaten trying to drive the off-spinner through the off-side with the ball going straight through.

He keeps strike with an easy single off the last ball.

England are desperate for a breakthrough as the Indian opening stand continues to grow to lay the foundation for a huge total.

Rahul clips Curran on the leg side for a single to take his score to 20 and Rohit misses the flick but takes a leg bye.

Rahul is beaten last ball as he tries to poke at the wide outswinger.

Rohit has been quite impressive with his shot selection. He solidly blocks against Moeen, keeping out the first four balls before taking a single off the fifth ball on the leg side and Rahul picks one off the last ball.

Rohit seems to have gone on the defensive as he closes in on his first century away from home in Tests.

India well placed on 114 for no loss in 40 overs, with Rohit on 82 and Rahul on 22.

Curran beats Rohit as the opener chases a wide outswinger without any footwork. Two balls later, Rohit clips the incoming delivery behind square for a couple and then pulls the short ball for a single to fine leg.

Rohit looking quite solid against spin as he defends Moeen quite confidently, keeping out the full deliveries.

He blocks out the first four balls before flicking the fifth ball to long-on for one and Rahul hits the last ball to the same fielder for another run.

Curran drifts on the pads as Rohit clips it to deep square leg for a single. Rohit inside edges the next ball trying to slash it through the off-side as he gets two runs to fine leg.

India reach 108 for no loss in 36 overs at the drinks break. Rohit has cut loose after a cautious start to smash his way to 81 from 122 balls, hitting 11 fours and a six.

Rahul has been happy to play second fiddle, with a cautious innings of 18 from 95 balls.

Rohit taps Moeen on the leg side for a single before the two openers have some confusion as Rahul tries to steal a quick run and comes down halfway but manages to recover in time.

Curran goes wide to Rohit, who ignores it and defends the next and does the same next ball.

Curran drifts on the pads as Rohit goes for the flick which he misses before he takes a single to midwicket and Rahul leaves the last ball.

Rohit takes on spinner Moeen as he comes down and lofts the the third ball over mid-on for a four.

He hits the next through the off-side for two runs and then takes a single to bring up India's 100 in the 33rd over.

Rohit gets a big inside edge as he tries to drive Wood through the off-side. The inside edge narrowly misses the stumps and goes past the wicketkeeper for a four.

But the ball goes off the middle a few balls later as Rohit plays a thumping hook shot off the front foot through midwicket for another boundary.

Wood generating some serious pace but Rohit unfazed as he offers solid defence to the last two balls of the over.

Spin introduced for the first time by England in the series as Moeen Ali comes into the attack.

Rahul watchfully defends the first ball and leaves the next. Good flight from Moeen as Rahul is happy to block but is beaten last ball as he tries to cut.

Curran, who went for 28 runs in five overs in his first spell, is back into the attack.

Rohit taps the first ball for a single to midwicket and Rahul picks one off the next to square leg.

Another easy single for Rohit on the leg side before Rahul misses the glance but it goes fine off his pads for two leg byes.

Rahul plays a cracking straight drive but Curran stops it on his follow through.

India well placed on 91 for no loss in 30 overs, with Rohit on 66 and Rahul on 16.

Rohit waiting on the backfoot as he guides the wide delivery from Wood past the gully fielder for two runs.

Wood tries the short ball which is down the leg side as Rohit pulls it fine for a four and then takes the single to inch closer to his fifty.

A good short ball from Wood directed at the body as Rahul does well to keep it down.

In the next over, Rohit and Rahul take a single each before the former taps Robinson on the leg side for one to bring up his fifty from 83 balls.

Wood bowls a cracking delivery to beat Rohit, short of good length and moving away sharply at good pace.

Rohit perished to the short ball in the first innings of the first Test but it will not stop him from playing the shot again. He takes on the short ball from Wood as he looks to have miscued the pull shot but it carries over the fine leg fence for a six.

India are well placed on 77 for no loss in 26 overs, with Rohit on 56 and Rahul on 15.

Play resumes on time after the lunch break. Robinson continues the over which was unfinished before rain because of rain.

Rohit Sharma offers no shot to the first ball of the second session and defends the next to end the 19th over.

Fast bowler Mark Wood comes into the attack. The first ball is blocked by Rahul, who then offers no shot to the next.

Wood gets the ball to come in sharply as Rahul ignores again followed by another leave and does the same last ball.

No further play in the morning session. The rain break has forced the umpires to call for an early lunch break on Day 1.

The first session has belonged to India as their openers did well to keep the England's pacers at bay.

India have made a good start to reach 46 for no loss in 18.4 overs.

Rohit batted cautiously before hitting a few boundaries on his way a fluent 35 from 66 balls, hitting six fours. Meanwhile, at the other Rahul batted cautiously to scored a solid 10 from 46 balls.

Some uneven bounce as Rahul offers no shot to the full length delivery from Anderson, which bounces before reaching wicketkeeper Buttler.

The India opener is beaten next ball as he plays down the wrong line trying to defend Anderson.

He gets a thick leading edge off the last ball which goes past point for a couple of runs.

Robinson comes back into the attack. Rohit watchfully defends the first ball with a straight bat and pushes the next on the off-side followed by a leave.

The fourth ball is down the leg side as Rohit misses the glance on the leg side before the rain comes back to interrupt play yet again.

India have made a good start, to reach 46 for no loss in 18.4 overs, doing well to play out the new ball.

Rohit started off cautiously before cashing in later, including four fours in a single over to score 35, while Rahul is on 10.

Curran bowls a wide half-volley as Rohit hits it square on the off-side for a four.

He goes for the drive next ball but this gets the edge which flies wide of the slips for another boundary.

Curran bowls another half-tracker as Rohit punches it through point for the third four of the over, to take his score to 25.

Rohit making hay as Curran continues to stray. This time the pacer bowls a half-volley on the pads which is clipped through square leg for the fourth four of the over.

16 runs from the over as India reach 38 for no loss in 15 overs at the first drinks break on Day 1.

Anderson continues as Rahul leaves the first ball and then defends the next on the off-side followed by another leave before he plays out the rest of the over.

Curran from the other end despite going for runs at the other end. He bowls it on the pads as Rohit clips it fine on the leg side for a couple.

Another poor delivery on the pads as Rohit glances it fine for a four as Curran continues to leak runs.

Rohit plays a nice drive off a full delivery to the fielder at mid-off.

30 runs from the last five overs as India reach 44 for no loss in 17 overs with Rohit on 35 and Rahul on eight.

Rahul clips Curran on the leg side for one and Rohit plants his front foot across but does well to flick it fine leg for another run.

Rahul defends the fourth ball on the leg side and leaves the next followed by another block.

Anderson comes back into the attack. The first ball is the wide outswinger which Rohit leaves before he is hit on the pads by the incoming delivery next ball.

But the leg before shout is turned down with the impact high and the ball going over the stumps as England decide against the review.

Rohit then misses the flick as he gets a leg bye before Rahul plays a loose shot away from his body and is well beaten.

In the next over, Rahul gets the first boundary of the Indian innings as he flicks Curran off his pads fine on the leg side for a four.

Anderson gives some width as Rahul hits it through the covers for three runs and then takes a single to fine leg.

First change in the bowling as Sam Curran replaces Anderson, who bowled four overs with the new ball.

The first ball is defended into the covers by Rohit before he is hit on the pads next ball and is then beaten with one slanted across him and he plays out the last two balls as Curran starts off with a maiden over.

Robinson gets the ball to jag in as Rahul gets the inside edge before he flicks the next to fine leg for one..

Rohit defends the next couple of balls and then makes most of the wrong line from Robinson as he plays a nice flick through midwicket for a couple.

This has been a slow but an assured start by the Indians as they play out the first 10 overs, reaching 11 for no loss. There have been a few play and misses but importantly the openers have denied England an early wicket with their cautious approach, looking to leave as much as possible.

Robinson beats Rahul with one that moves away quite a bit. The next comes in and this time the opener clips it to square leg for a single.

The last ball is a cracker as it forces Rohit to play at it, only to swing away sharply past the edge.

In the next over, Anderson gets the ball to move away as Rahul pushes it on the off-side and taps the next on the leg side for one.

Rohit drives the third ball straight down the ground as Anderson stops it on his follow through before he leaves the last three balls.

Robinson nearly rewarded for his fine bowling. The ball slants away sharply from the stumps as Rahul gets the edge trying to defend but it falls well short of the slips.

Rahul does well to play late as he blocks the fifth ball and it goes along the ground to gully.

Anderson looking to mix up things. A few outswingers which Rahul leaves before the fifth delivery seams in sharply and hits the right-hander on the pads but the impact is well outside the line.

In the next over, Rohit is beaten outside the off-stump as he pokes away from his body as Robinson bowls in a good channel, looking to make the batsmen play.

The fifth ball is pitched as Rohit watchfully pushes it into the covers, looking to bat safely against the new ball.

Anderson continues as Rahul gets an inside edge off the first ball before h gets a single off the next to get off the mark.

The third ball also comes in as Rohit gets an inside edge which goes square on the leg side to get him a couple of runs.

The last ball hold its line as Rohit tries to defend only to see the ball beat him and go past the edge.

Play starts at Lord's James Anderson bowls the first over for England. The first ball is a wide outswinger which Rohit Sharma is able to leave easily.

He defends the next and takes a single off the third to get off the mark.

The fourth ball is again away from the off-stump as KL Rahul leaves and does the same to the last two balls to end the first over.

Ollie Robinson to bowl the second over. The first ball jags in sharply as Rohit leaves it on length with the ball passing close to the off-stump and ignores the next too.

The third ball is pitched right up on the stumps as Rohit blocks and two balls later drives another full delivery straight back past the bowler for a couple of runs.

The last ball comes in sharply as Rohit is beaten and hit high on the pads which saves him from the leg before shout.

It has turned out to be a brief interruption as the covers are coming off already

"UPDATE - Restart at 11.30 AM local (4 PM IST)," tweeted BCCI.

The players walked out to the middle to get things underway but before the first ball could be bowled at Lord's, the rain was once again back to play spoilsport.

The players had to rush back to the dressing room as the covers were being called back out to the middle.

India will once again be looking towards their openers -- KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma -- to provide a good start.

Senior pros Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane will also be aiming to get back among the runs with India looking for a good showing with the bat in difficult conditions on Day 1.

England captain Joe Root has won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the second Test at Lord's.

India have made one change as pacer Ishant Sharma replaces the injured Shardul Thakur, with senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin once again left out.

England have made as many as three changes. Spin all-rounder Moeen Ali comes in for Dan Lawrence, while Haseeb Hameed replaces Zak Crawley and Mark Wood comes in for the injured Stuart Broad.

Senior pacer James Anderson has been ruled fit for the second match as he retains his place.

The rain has stopped and the toss will take place soon.

"Toss delayed & will take place at 10.50 local time (15.20 IST).

Play will commence at 11.15 local time (15.45 IST)," tweets BCCI.

The weather continues to play spoilsport!

The toss has been delayed because of heavy rain as the covers are called out to the middle at Lord's.

"If you have a spinner in your team it will come into the game later on, so bat first," reckons former West Indies pacer Michael Holding at the pitch report.

"But I don't think a specialist spinner is entirely necessary here."

Welcome to the coverage of the second Test between England and India at Lord's on Thursday.

Captain Virat Kohli might have to seriously consider playing his best spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, while expecting a far better show from the seasoned batting line-up in the second Test.

While India were in a better position to win the first Test before heavens opened up on the fifth and final day, the first innings score of 278 was still below par as the likes of senior batsmen Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane failed with the bat.

Not to forget that all three haven't scored heavily in the past two years and save Rahane, who got a hundred in Melbourne, the other two batting mainstays haven't been able to convert a lot of their half-centuries into three-figure mark.

Ashwin, who was dropped from the playing XI in the drawn opening game in Nottingham because of Ravindra Jadeja's superior skills with the willow, is back in the mix.

In case, the pitch is on the drier side, there could possibly be no harm in playing both Ashwin and Jadeja, who can trouble this brittle England batting line-up with their different variations.

The poor quality of new generation of England Test players was exposed again as skipper Joe Root had to come to his team's rescue for the umpteenth time with a fifty in the first innings and possibly a match-saving 21st Test hundred in the second essay.

There is every possibility that Rory Burns could be replaced by Haseeb Hameed, who scored a hundred opening the innings for the County Select XI against Indians in the tour game last month.

For Kohli, if four pacers are non-negotiable, then one among Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav will be straightaway replacing Shardul Thakur but the choice might not be that easy.