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Sat, 13 February 2021
2nd Test: Rohit's century puts India on top on Day 1
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17:31 Rohit's century puts India on top on Day 1
India 300-6 (88 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Opener Rohit Sharma smashed a century to put India in control on Day 1 of the second Test against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.
Rohit hit a brilliant 161, hitting 18 fours and two sixes in his 231-ball knock, as India finished the opening day on 300/6 on a pitch offering a lot of assistance to the spinners.
Rishabh Pant was batting on 33 at stumps, with debutant Axar Patel on five at the other end.
Earlier, Rohit rallied India after a few early wickets as put on 162 runs for the fourth wicket with Ajinkya Rahane.
Pacer Olly Stone had dismissed opener Shubman Gill for a duck with his third delivery after India captain Virat Kohli had elected to bat.
Rohit added 85 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara to steady the innings, but spinners helped England reclaim control with two quick wickets before the lunch break.
Pujara made 21 before edging Jack Leach to slip, and in the next over Moeen Ali marked his Test recall by spinning one through Kohli's defence to clean bowl the India captain for a duck.
Rohit was caught in deep off Leach, while Rahane was bowled by Moeen as he missed the sweep shot.
Rohit hit a brilliant 161, hitting 18 fours and two sixes in his 231-ball knock, as India finished the opening day on 300/6 on a pitch offering a lot of assistance to the spinners.
Rishabh Pant was batting on 33 at stumps, with debutant Axar Patel on five at the other end.
Earlier, Rohit rallied India after a few early wickets as put on 162 runs for the fourth wicket with Ajinkya Rahane.
Pacer Olly Stone had dismissed opener Shubman Gill for a duck with his third delivery after India captain Virat Kohli had elected to bat.
Rohit added 85 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara to steady the innings, but spinners helped England reclaim control with two quick wickets before the lunch break.
Pujara made 21 before edging Jack Leach to slip, and in the next over Moeen Ali marked his Test recall by spinning one through Kohli's defence to clean bowl the India captain for a duck.
Rohit was caught in deep off Leach, while Rahane was bowled by Moeen as he missed the sweep shot.
Rohit Sharma
17:06 Rohit's century puts India on top on Day 1
India 300-6 (88 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Axar glances Root down to fine leg for a single for his first runs in Test cricket.
Pant is then struck on the pads by the full delivery which goes straight on as the leg before wicket appeal is turned down and England decide against the review.
Pant blocks the next few deliveries before he takes a single off the last ball to retain strike.
Stone is back into the attack as England are yet to take the second new ball. Pant picks a single off the third ball before England take the new ball.
Stone bowls it full with the new ball as Axar clips it through square leg for a four before he is beaten next ball by one that moves away to go past the edge.
Root to bowl what looks like the final over of the day. Pant at his defensive best as he is at the receiving end of some words from the England close in players.
He retains strike with a single from the last ball as the umpires decide to have another over before close.
Stone to bowl the final over of the day. Pant won't miss out on any opportunity to score as he pulls a short ball through midwicket for a four to bring up India's 300.
The last ball is a full toss which Pant gently taps to midwicket as India finish the first day on 300/6 in 88 overs.
16:43 Ashwin out for 13; India lose 6th wicket
India 284-6 (83 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Root comes into the attack from the other end. He beats Pant first up with one that turns away big before the left-hander taps the next to point for a quick single.
Ashwin then looks for the sweep but it goes off his gloves over the wicketkeeper for two runs and he then steers a wide delivery past point for another couple of runs.
Pant has decided attack is the best form of defence on this wicket. He reverse sweeps Moeen for a boundary behind point before he chips the next over the fielder at mid-off for back to back fours.
Moeen gets revenge with the wicket of Pant, who gets the edge trying to defend and wicketkeeper Foakes takes another sharp catch.
Pant reviews immediately and rightly so as the ball went off his thigh pads and not the bat.
Root strikes with the wicket of Ashwin, who is caught off an inside edge at short leg by Pope for 13. Ashwin chipped down the track and tried to defend but only managed to block it off an inside edge to offer a simple catch to Pope.
He nearly strikes next ball as debutant Axar Patel is beaten by one that turns sharply and he must consider himself lucky not to have edged it.
16:29 Rohit and Rahane perish; India 5 down
India 271-5 (80 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Ashwin comes down and tries to loft Leach over the leg side but gets it off the inside half of the bat, past mid-on for two runs and then takes a single.
Pant then smashes a short wide delivery past point for a four to get off the mark.
Some sharp turn for Leach off the rough as Pant somehow defends it before he shuffles across a long way and sweeps the spinner fine on the leg side for one.
Pant happy to play out a maiden over from Moeen, who is getting the ball to turn away from him.
Pant not holding back against Leach as he chips down the track and swings the left-arm spinner over midwicket for a six.
He then sweeps the next ball but can't get it in the gap before he takes a single and Ashwin plays out the last ball.
Moeen gets the ball to explode off the pitch, bounce and turn -- as Pant gets the thick outside edge for a single wide of the slip fielder.
Ashwin then eases a full toss through the covers for a four as Moeen continues to leak runs.
India are 271/5 in 80 overs as England are nearly 10 overs short of the over rate at the scheduled close of play time.
16:14 Rohit and Rahane perish; India 5 down
Moeen comes back into the attack. He gets the ball to turn sharply as Pant is beaten all ends up it turned nearly squared.
India 250-5 (76 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Moeen comes back into the attack. He gets the ball to turn sharply as Pant is beaten all ends up it turned nearly squared.
Another sharp turning delivery from Moeen as Pant gets a leading edge which falls away from the bowler's reach before the left-hander misses the flick off the last ball.
A big puff of dust off the full delivery from Leach as Rahane misses the flick and the ball goes off the pads and is taken by the close in fielder. However, England go up for the review but there is nothing on the Ultra Edge and the ball is pitched well outside the leg stump means they end up losing another review.
Interesting as the ball seems to have brushed the gloves as it went off the pads on to the fielder at short leg.
But it doesn't cost England much as Moeen strikes in the next over with the wicket of Rahane.
The India vice-captain goes for the sweep which he misses completely and is bowled for 67.
Two important strikes by the England spinners in quick succession as India are reduced to 249/5, in the 76th over.
Ravichandran Ashwin will get a close look of the pitch as he comes out to bat. He defends the first two balls before taking a single to mid-on to get off the mark.
16:00 Rohit out for 161; India lose 4th wicket
India 248-4 (73 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Rahane clips Root on the leg side for a single before Rohit carves the fourth ball square on the off-side for two runs.
Leach drops short as Rahane punches it through the covers for a four before he picks a single off the sweep.
Leach then gives England the much-needed breakthrough with the big wicket of Rohit.
The opener sweeps it uppishly straight into the hands of Moeen at deep square leg to perish after a superb innings of 161 from 231 balls, hitting 18 fours and two sixes.
He put England in control with a 162-run stand for the fourth wicket with Rahane.
A timely wicket for England as Rohit threatened to push India towards a huge first innings total. They will now look to attack new batsman Rishabh Pant and pick up a few more wickets before stumps.
15:52 Rohit hits 150 to put India in control
India 240-3 (71 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Jack Leach comes into the attack in place of Broad. Rohit comes forward to defend and it hits on the pads by one sliding down straight but it going down the leg side and the LBW appeal is turned down.
Rohit then picks a single off the fifth ball on the off-side and Rahane pushes the last ball into the point region.
Rohit continues as Rohit dabs the first ball past the slip fielder for a couple before he misses the sweep next ball.
Rohit comes down the track and flicks Root on the leg side as it hits Pope at short leg but the rebound falls safely on the leg side.
In the next over, Rahane taps Leach on the leg side for one before Rohit is again struck on the pads by one going straight on.
Rohit then jumps down the track and lofts Leach over midwicket for a four before he paddles the spinner fine for two runs.
Quick glovework from Ben Foakes as he stumps Rohit, who is beaten by the sharp turning delivery from Leach. Rohit gets the benefit of doubt as his backfoot looks to be on the line. That was a very close call as Rohit survives by the narrowest of margins.
15:33 Rohit hits 150 to put India in control
Broad gets the ball to come in as Rohit gets an inside edge for a single and Rahane picks one on the off-side.
India 230-3 (68 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Broad gets the ball to come in as Rohit gets an inside edge for a single and Rahane picks one on the off-side.
Another incoming delivery which Rohit turns on the leg side for an easy single before Rahane blocks out the last two balls.
Part-time spinner Joe Root comes into the attack. He starts from round the wicket and beats Rohit with one that goes straight on as the India opener pokes and misses.
Rohit uses his feet to block Root on the leg side as he plays out a maiden over with utmost caution.
England's over rate has not been that great on Day 1 yet they persist with pace from one end. Remember, the teams are docked WTC points for slow over rate during a match and England despite using spinners a lot have been awful with their over rate.
Rahane taps Broad on the off-side but is unable to get a single before he pulls the next for one.
Rohit then gets the next through midwicket for a single to take his score to 149 and Rahane keeps strike with one off the last ball to square leg.
A single to Rahane off Root to deep square leg and Rohit comes down the track to defend the off-spinner.
Slightly short as Rohit is able to clip it off the backfoot to fine leg for a single to bring up his 150, from 208 balls, which is laced with 17 fours and two sixes.
The two batsmen have put on 144 runs for the fourth wicket to put India in control on a tough wicket, which will get increasingly difficult to bat as the match progresses.
15:16 Rohit, Rahane put India in control
India 222-3 (64 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Rohit turns Moeen on the leg side for a single before Rahane gets a thick outside edge wide of the slip fielder for two runs.
Rahane then sweeps a full delivery from well outside the off-stump for a single to deep midwicket.
A single to Rohit off the next before Rahane again tries the sweep but gets an inside edge on to his pads.
England continue with pace from one end as Broad replaces Stone. Rohit nudges the first ball on the leg side for a single before Rahane blocks solidly, looking to keep out the over with utmost caution.
Rohit sweeps Moeen through square leg as the fielder runs across and gets to the ball but ends up deflecting it into the ropes as his knee got stuck in the outfield while sliding to stop the ball.
Rohit then late cuts the next ball past the slip fielder for two runs before he goes for the sweep but this time he top edges it fine on the leg side for one.
Rahane then punches a short delivery through the covers for a couple.
14:58 Rahane hits half-century; India on top
India 207-3 (60 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Rohit glances Stone to fine leg for a single before Rahane is struck on the body by the incoming delivery.
Rahane then pulls a short ball through square leg for a four before he is hit on the pads by the full incoming delivery but the leg before shout is turned down as the right-hander manages to get his pad out of the line.
In the next over, Rohit drives a full toss from Moeen straight down the ground for a single to long-on.
Some sharp turn and extra bounce for Moeen as Rahane goes right back to cut but withdraws from the shot at the last minute.
Rahane taps the last ball to mid-on for a quick single to bring up his 23rd fifty in Tests.
14:51 Rohit, Rahane take India past 200
India 200-3 (58 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Pacer Stone starts off with the ball for England in the post-tea session. Rahane chases a wide delivery first up and is beaten before he taps the next on the leg side and then blocks the third ball on the off-side.
Rahane then gets a thick inside edge on to the pads before defending the last ball.
Moeen Ali from the other end. He comes forward to defend as Moeen gets it turn to sharply and the ball goes off the pads to short leg.
Rohit then tries the sweep but is unable to connect as the leg before shout is turned down as the impact is outside the line of off-stump.
He is beaten again last ball attempting the sweep as the leg before shout is turned down and England are not taking the review yet again.
Stone bowls a good short ball to Rahane, who miscues the pull shot fine on the leg side for a single.
Rohit
then slaps the next ball in the gap through the covers for two runs and
then offers no shot to the next before blocking out the last two balls.
In the next over, Rahane uses his feet against Moeen to drive the off-spinner through the covers for a four.
Three balls later, he punches a wide delivery square on the off-side for another boundary to bring up India's 200, in the 58th over.
14:13 Rohit-Rahane steer India to 189/3 at tea
India 189-3 (54 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Moeen switches to round the wicket but makes the mistake of giving some width to Rohit, who rocks back and late cuts it wide of the slip fielder for a four.
He chips down the track and clips Moeen for a single to deep midwicket to retain strike.
Rohit slaps Leach square on the off-side to raise the 100-run stand for the fourth wicket from 180 balls.
Some turn for Leach as Rohit watches it the last minute before defending it with the spin on the off-side and then blocks the next.
Pacer Olly Stone is back into the attack as he replaces Moeen for one quick burst before tea break.
Rahane defends the first few balls before he is beaten by the slower leg cutter from the pacer as the ball turns away to go past the edge.
Leach to bowl the final over of the session. Rohit watchfully defends the first ball and does the same with the next before taking a single off the third.
Rahane blocks before he is struck on the high on the bat by one which turns and bounces quite a lot.
Rahane punches the last ball to point to take a quick single to end the session.
India go into the tea break on 189/3 in 54 overs with Rohit unbeaten on 132 from 178 balls, while Rahane is on 36 from 80 balls.
India kept England's bowlers at bay, scoring 83 runs from 28 overs in the post-lunch session without losing any wicket.
13:56 Rohit hits century to lift India
India 180-3 (50 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Rohit drives Leach down to long-on for a single before Rahane picks a run off the next on the leg side.
Rohit then whips Leach through the leg side for a couple before keeping strike with one from the last ball.
Rohit keeps the boundaries coming regularly. This time he slog sweeps Moeen over square leg for a four and takes a single to long-on.
A single to Rohit off Leach through the covers before Rahane cuts the next ball but can't get it in the gap and he then plays out the rest of the over.
13:46 Rohit hits century to lift India
India 169-3 (47 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Moeen continues as Rahane slaps the first ball into the gap on the off-side for a single and Rohit comes down but defends it on the leg side.
He then flicks Moeen through midwicket for two runs before keeping strike with one off the last ball.
England have two fielders close to the batsmen on either side of the pitch at silly mid-on and silly mid-off.
Broad looks for reverse, pitching the ball right up, as Rohit defends the first two balls before taking a quick single in the covers and a watchful Rahane plays out the rest of the over.
Change in the bowling as Leach replaces Moeen. He sets up Rohit nicely with a few flighted deliveries before bowling the arm ball which goes straight on and nearly castles Rohit.
Rohit was caught in two minds before getting his bat down in time as he gets a thick inside edge which narrowly misses the stumps and goes fine on the leg side for three runs.
Leach follows it up with a short ball which Rahane cuts it behind point for a four.
Change of ends for Moeen as he takes over from Broad. Rohit picks a single off the first ball to midwicket before Rahane nearly throws it away.
He comes down the track and looks to loft Moeen down the ground but fails to get hold of it as the ball falls just short of the fielder rushing in from deepish mid-on.
Rahane then rocks back and punches Moeen through the covers for three runs before Rohit picks one to long-on.
13:29 Rohit hits century to lift India
India 152-3 (43 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Nervous nineties for Rohit. He pokes at a wide delivery from Broad and is beaten. Rohit pushes Broad to point and looks for a quick run but decides against it before he solidly blocks the last ball.
In the next over, Rahane sweeps Moeen for a single to fine leg.
Rohit then paddles the next ball fine on the leg side for two runs to complete his century from 131 balls and then hits the next to long-on for one.
This is Rohit's seventh century in Test cricket as he continues his superb record in home Tests.
In the next over, Rohit whips Broad through midwicket for two runs before he steers a wide delivery past gully for another couple of runs as India go past the 150-run mark, in the 43rd over.
13:10 Rohit, Rahane bring India back on track
India 144-3 (40 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Rohit has had enough of the blocking. He comes down the track and lofts Moeen over the fielder at mid-off and it carries all over the ropes for a six.
The crowd inside the stadium have sprung back to life as chants of 'Rohit Rohit' erupt around the stands.
Just three runs short of his century as crowd cheer in anticipation of the landmark but he confidently blocks out the last ball.
Pacer Broad comes back into the attack. He defends the first few balls before he looks to drive a full delivery but gets it past gully off the outside half of the bat for a four.
He then digs out a yorker to silly mid-on before offering no stroke to a wide delivery.
Generous flight from Moeen as he gets the ball to dip as Rohit comes down and defends it on the leg side. He then tries to paddle it fine but miscues it off the toe end of the bat as it falls safely on the leg side.
Rohit in defensive mood as he taps a full toss gently back to the bowler before he comes down the track and flicks it to long-on for one to retain strike.
India reach 144/3 in 40 overs, with Rohit on 98 and Rahane on 25.
12:57 Rohit, Rahane bring India back on track
India 133-3 (37 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Moeen Ali into the attack as he replaces Stone. He starts with flighted deliveries to Rohit, who blocks the first two balls, before he hits the third down to long-on for one.
Rahane then picks a single before Rohit sweeps the last ball through square leg for a four.
Leach bowls a peach! He gets the ball to turn sharply after it produces a puff of dust to beat Rahane who tries to defend. He then manages to squeeze the fifth ball through midwicket for a single.
Moeen gets the ball to turn in sharply into Rahane who gets hit on the pads before he sweeps the fourth ball for a single.
Rohit easily picks one off the next down to the fielder at long-on as two runs come from the over.
The wicket seems to have eased up after lunch. Rohit gets a single off Leach on the leg side to take his score into the 90s before Rahane goes back deep in his crease to clip it for a single.
Rohit also picks another run off the last ball to deep midwicket to retain strike.
12:43 Rohit, Rahane steady India
Stone gets the ball to reverse into right-hander Rahane, who tries to clip it on the leg side but misses before he pulls the next past leg gully for a single.
India 121-3 (33 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Stone gets the ball to reverse into right-hander Rahane, who tries to clip it on the leg side but misses before he pulls the next past leg gully for a single.
Rohit then looks to smash a short wide delivery but is beaten as he plays away from his body.
Rahane taps Leach on the leg side for a single before Rohit looks to buckle down as he plays out the remaining few deliveries, not wanting to take any chances this time around.
Stone gets the ball to kick off quite steeply as Rahane fends it using his gloves.
The India vice-captain then plays a confident punch through the covers for a four off the backfoot as the pacer goes short and wide.
Two balls later, he plays another delightful drive through the covers as Pope overpitches this time around.
Rohit comes down the track and drives Leach to mid-on before he takes a quick single on the off-side.
12:26 Rohit slams half-century to rally India
India 110-3 (29 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Left-arm spinner Jack Leach to start off with the ball in the post-lunch session.
Rohit defends the first ball which is flighted right up and then offers no shot to the next before he plays out the rest of the over with caution.
Pacer Olly Stone from the other end. Rahane drives the first ball straight to mid-off before he nudges the next on the leg side and then defends the next.
Rahane then gets a leading edge which falls safely on the off-side as he picks two runs through the covers before blocking out the last two balls.
In the next over, Leach has a confident shout for leg before wicket turned down against Rohit, who looks to paddle it fine
England decide against the review as Rohit had got his front foot outside the line of off-stump.
Rohit then comes down but doesn't get hold of the loft as it falls safely over the covers for a couple.
11:35 Rohit slams fifty; India 106/3 at lunch
Rohit quite watchful against Leach as India look to bounce back after the twin strike.
India 106-3 (26 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Rohit quite watchful against Leach as India look to bounce back after the twin strike.
He defends the first four balls against Leach before taking a single to mid-on and Rahane keeps out the arm ball.
Rohit keeps the runs coming as he sweeps a full delivery from Moeen through square leg for a four and then takes a single to mid-off.
Rahane at his watchful best as he keeps out the rest of the over.
In the next over, Rohit flicks a full delivery through midwicket for a four to bring up India's 100, in the 25th over.
Pacer Olly Stone to bowl the final over of the session. Rahane clips the first ball uppishly as it flies just past Ollie Pope close in on the leg side.
Rohit then gets a thick outside edge as the ball moves away late but it flies past the slips for a four before he pulls the next ball for a single.
Stone then gets the ball to come in as Rahane inside edges it on to his pads before he avoids the bouncer.
India are 106/3 at lunch on Day 1, with Rohit stroking his way to 80 from 78 balls, hitting 13 fours and a six, and Rahane on five.
11:21 Kohli out for duck; India in trouble
India 90-3 (22 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Moeen produces a beauty to get the big wicket of Kohli, who is bowled for a duck.
The India captain looks to drive Moeen against the spin on the off-side but is beaten by the sharp turning delivery to be bowled for a duck.
Moeen got the ball to drift away from the right-hander dragging Kohli into the cover drive before it spun in sharply after pitching to go through the gap between bat and pad.
Two wickets in the space of seven deliveries as India are reduced to 86/2, in the 22nd over.
Some pressure on Ajinkya Rahane, who needs some runs to ward off his critics.
Rahane starts off in some style as he drives an overpitched delivery through the covers for a four and then plays out the rest of the over.
11:11 Pujara out for 21; India lose 2nd wicket
India 85-2 (21 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Leach makes the breakthrough with the wicket of Pujara, who gets the edge and is caught by Stokes in the slips for 21.
Leach got the ball to turn sharply off the puff of dust as Pujara looks to defend as he plays inside the line and is caught at slip.
Virat Kohli offers no shot to the first ball before he defends the next and keeps out the last two balls.
11:08 Rohit slams 47-ball fifty to rally India
India 84-1 (20 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Pujara brilliant with his footwork as he comes down again but drives it straight to mid-off before he taps the next to point for a single.
Rohit comes forward to defend but gets a thick inside edge fine on the leg side for a single and Pujara blocks out the rest of the over.
In the next over, Rohit clips Moeen on the leg side for a single and Pujara comes down before he pads it away.
Pujara pads away the next ball before he picks a single to mid-on and Rohit steers the last ball behind point for a four and then takes a single.
India are going at over four per over to reach 84/1 in 20 overs, with Rohit stroking 63 from 60 balls and Pujara on 21.
10:58 Rohit slams 47-ball 50 to rally India
Pujara again uses his feet to Moeen, clipping it through square leg for a four. He then comes down again but this time pads it away and then blocks the next. Moeen drops slightly short as Pujara stays in the crease this time around to defend and then blocks the last ball with a straight bat.
India 75-1 (18 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Pujara again uses his feet to Moeen, clipping it through square leg for a four. He then comes down again but this time pads it away and then blocks the next. Moeen drops slightly short as Pujara stays in the crease this time around to defend and then blocks the last ball with a straight bat.
Leach has a huge appeal for leg before wicket turned down against Rohit, who has come forward to defend it. However, the spinner fails to convince stand-in captain Ben Stokes to take the review, who indicates that the impact is outside the line. Good call from England as ball tracker shows the ball would have bounced over the stumps.
Rohit then paddles Leach uppishly fine on the leg side for one and Pujara slaps the last ball through the covers for two runs.
In the next over, Moeen gets the ball to hold its line as Rohit gets the edge which falls short of the slips as Stokes gets a hand on it but cannot prevent the singles.
Pujara then runs down the track and clips Moeen through square leg for two runs before he again comes down and taps it for a quick single to midwicket.
Rohit uses his feet and he seems to be deceived in the flight but he does well to keep it out before he cuts the last ball for a four.
10:55 Rohit slams 47-ball 50 to rally India
India 60-1 (15 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Leach giving it some flight as the ball generates some puff of dust everytime is it pitched up. Rohit defends the first three balls before he gets an edge off the fourth as Leach gets it to turn sharply but it falls just short of the slip fielder and he then keeps out the last two balls.
Spin from both ends as off-spinner Moeen Ali comes into the attack. Pujara immediately chips down the track which he always does against off-spin. He comes down and blocks the first ball back to the bowler before he takes a single off the next and Rohit takes one to long-on to raise India's 50, in the 14th over.
Pujara comes down and defends Moeen before he drives the last ball down to long-on for a single.
This time, Pujara uses his feet against Leach for a single wide of mid-off. Rohit looks to unsettle Leach as he sweeps the second ball powerfully through square leg for a four.
Two balls later he sweeps a full toss for another four through square leg to race to his fifty from 47 balls, having hit eight fours and a six.
10:35 Rohit's attack rallies India after early wkt
Rohit drives Leach down to long-off for an easy single before Pujara comes down and defends the next delivery.
India 48-1 (12 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Rohit drives Leach down to long-off for an easy single before Pujara comes down and defends the next delivery.
He then pushes the next on the off-side before blocking out the next and then keeps out the last two balls.
Rohit continues to be positive. He takes full toll of a short ball from Stokes as he pulls it over midwicket for a six.
Stokes goes fuller as Rohit clips it square on the leg side for a four and then takes a single.
Rohit has stroked his way to 41 from 36 balls as India reach 48/1 in 12 overs.
10:24 Rohit, Pujara steady India after early wkt
India 36-1 (10 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
England introduce spin as left-armer Jack Leach comes into the attack. Big puff of dust first ball as Leach gets it to turn and Pujara defends it on the off-side and picks a single.
Rohit survives the leg before shout as he misses the paddle sweep and England decide to take the review. England lose the review as the ball is clearly going down the leg stump.
Rohit then drives a full delivery down to long-off for a single and Pujara blocks out the last two balls.
Another change in the bowling as Ben Stokes comes into the attack. Rohit welcomes him with a cracking drive through the covers for a four to take his score to 28 from as many balls, with five fours.
Rohit then picks a single as India reach 36/1 in 10 overs.
10:13 Rohit, Pujara steady India after early wkt
India 29-1 (8 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Stone hits Pujara on the gloves with a quick short ball as he tries to fend it away. The physio comes out to have a look before Pujara continues and he manages to play out the last three balls.
Rohit picks a quick single off Broad on the off-side and Pujara gets one off the next on the leg side.
Rohit then taps the third ball on the off-side before he gets a thick inside edge on to his pads which saves him from the leg before shout.
Rohit then chips the last ball over the fielder at mid-on as the ball stops on him as he tries to defend and luckily for him it clears the fielder and goes for a four.
Stone bowling a good spell with the new ball. He gets the ball to move away as Pujara playing inside the line is beaten before he picks a single on the leg side.
Rohit clips the third ball for two runs before he cuts a short wide delivery past gully for a four.
09:56 Gill out for duck; India lose early wicket
Rohit gets India off the mark with a beautiful drive through the covers for a four and then picks a single on the leg side.
India 16-1 (5 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Rohit gets India off the mark with a beautiful drive through the covers for a four and then picks a single on the leg side.
Broad doing well to keep it close to the stumps forcing Pujara to play at everything as the India No 3 keeps it out with a straight bat.
However, Broad manages to get an edge off the last delivery as Pujara plays inside the line but it goes along the ground past the slips for a four.
Rohit plays a nice straight drive as Olly Stone gets his hand on it to keep the batsman down to a single.
Stone tries the wide delivery but Pujara not wanting to do anything with it before he avoids a short ball pitched just wide.
Pujara then taps the fifth ball to mid-on before he offers no shot to the last ball.
Rohit hits Broad through the covers for a couple before he is caught in two minds. He initially looks to defend the ball before looking to leave the ball at the last minute as the ball hits the bat just outside the off-stump and goes towards the wicketkeeper.
He then drives the last ball straight down the ground for a four.
09:43 Gill out for duck; India lose early wicket
India 0-1 (2 ovs) vs Eng | Scorecard
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are the two openers for India, while Stuart Broad will open the bowling for England.
The first ball is pitched as Rohit pushes it on the off-side and is hit on the thigh pads next ball as he misses the clip before he is struck on the pads by a full delivery trying to again nudge it on the leg side.
Broad then gets his line right, pitching it outside the off-stump as Rohit drives it off the front foot but can't get it past the fielder in the covers and he then keeps out the yorker and offers no shot to the last ball.
Ollie Stone, playing in just his second Test, into the attack from the other end. He takes just three balls to provide England with the early breakthrough.
The first ball couple of deliveries are defended by Gill before he shoulders arms and is given out leg before wicket. A huge lapse from Gill as he offers no shot and is struck in line and after a chat with partner Rohit decides not to review it.
Cheteshwar Pujara plays out the last three balls as Stone starts off with a wicket maiden to give England the perfect start.
Axar Patel
09:14 India elect to bat; Kuldeep, Axar included
Debutant Axar Patel gets his Test cap from captain Virat Kohli as he becomes the 302nd Test player for India. Kuldeep finally gets a game as he plays his first Test in more than two years.
Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj.
England: Joe Root (captain), Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Daniel Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes(w), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Olly Stone.
England: Joe Root (captain), Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Daniel Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes(w), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, Olly Stone.
09:07 Siraj replaces rested Bumrah
India captain Virat Kohli has won the toss and elected to bat against England in Chennai.
India have made a few changes as Axar Patel makes his debut in place of Shahbaz Nadeem, while Kuldeep Yadav makes his long-awaited comeback as he replaces Sundar Washington.
Meanwhile, pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been rested as Mohammed Siraj comes into the playing XI.
On the other hand, England have made as many as four changes. Ben Foakes takes over the gloves from Jos Buttler, while Stuart Broad replaces James Anderson.
Off-spinner Moeen Ali is included in place of Dom Bess, while Olly Stone replaces Jofra Archer.
"The pitch will be good for batting on Day 1. We expect it to turn and get roughed up from Day 2 onwards," says Kohli at the toss.
08:46 India aim to get back to winning ways
A desperate India have decided to go for the jugular by opting for a turning pitch against a well-prepared England side in the second Test.
It is a perfect stage for India's mercurial skipper Virat Kohli, who loves to come the fore when the chips are down.
With crowd back inside the stands at MA Chidambaram stadium, something he thrives on, the Indian captain would be eyeing a good slugfest against a very resolute opposition. India need to win two matches and not lose any of the games to make the WTC final.
England will have a new wicketkeeper in Ben Foakes and Stuart Broad will replace James Anderson as part of workload management. Also in the mix is Moeen Ali, a known nemesis of India, in place of last match's first innings top wicket-taker Dom Bess.
For India, a fit-again Axar Patel is the closest to being a like-for-like replacement for an injured Ravindra Jadeja. Patel's Test debut looks imminent as Ashwin will need someone to hold on at the other end.
However, one can't be so sure about Kuldeep Yadav, who in his short six-Test career has played some tough games.
He would fancy his chance for being a better attacking option than Washington Sundar.
Kuldeep is an excellent attacking option but the team management's continued reluctance to play him is an indication of lack of faith in the Uttar Pradesh wrist spinner's abilities.
The toss will be very crucial and even if turns square, Kohli will look to bat first and expect Rohit Sharma to play a big innings as India look for a big first innings total.
Welcome to the coverage of the second Test match between India and England in Chennai on Saturday.
A desperate India have decided to go for the jugular by opting for a turning pitch against a well-prepared England side in the second Test.
It is a perfect stage for India's mercurial skipper Virat Kohli, who loves to come the fore when the chips are down.
With crowd back inside the stands at MA Chidambaram stadium, something he thrives on, the Indian captain would be eyeing a good slugfest against a very resolute opposition. India need to win two matches and not lose any of the games to make the WTC final.
England will have a new wicketkeeper in Ben Foakes and Stuart Broad will replace James Anderson as part of workload management. Also in the mix is Moeen Ali, a known nemesis of India, in place of last match's first innings top wicket-taker Dom Bess.
For India, a fit-again Axar Patel is the closest to being a like-for-like replacement for an injured Ravindra Jadeja. Patel's Test debut looks imminent as Ashwin will need someone to hold on at the other end.
However, one can't be so sure about Kuldeep Yadav, who in his short six-Test career has played some tough games.
He would fancy his chance for being a better attacking option than Washington Sundar.
Kuldeep is an excellent attacking option but the team management's continued reluctance to play him is an indication of lack of faith in the Uttar Pradesh wrist spinner's abilities.
The toss will be very crucial and even if turns square, Kohli will look to bat first and expect Rohit Sharma to play a big innings as India look for a big first innings total.
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