MUMBAI: After being trampled by Virat Kohli and Jayant Yadav for a long time during which the balance tilted heavily towards India, England staged a mini recovery of sorts to push the fourth Test into the final day. Chances of forcing a draw minimal, they are staring at the inevitable.
Lead pushed beyond what most had expected, India’s quest for a series-clinching win began on the right note. First-innings centurion Keaton Jennings gone in the first over, captain Alastair Cook in the 12th and Moeen Ali soon after, a massive test to save the game awaited England at tea, before Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow resisted in the last session. At 182/6 they need 49 more to avoid innings defeat.
Things unfolded at an unexpected pace on Sunday morning. After Kohli completed a third career double century, which was also a personal best, Yadav brought up a maiden hundred in his just his third Test. Their eighth-wicket partnership of 241 was the highest for India for this wicket and only the eighth association of 200 or more in that position in the history of Test cricket.
The morning belonged to Kohli and Yadav, who set a pace that was too hot for England. Helpless in the face of their rapid scoring, England merely waited for things to happen rather than making them happen. That the partnership came at a run rate of over four per over reflected the kind of domination the pair enjoyed. Cook tried pace and spin, without being able to stem the flow of runs.
Kohli stopped at a career-best 235 off 340 balls. All three of his double centuries have come this season. This was possibly the best, considering he was without specialist batsmen well before India had got close to England’s first innings total of 400. Batting with the tail and still dominating proceedings, the captain was imperious. England had no clue how to stop him.
Yadav exceeded expectations by miles and even outscored Kohli for a while. Driving with the authority of a top-order batsman, he was looking to score rather than merely putting bat to ball. His stroke play meant the bowling was attacked from both ends. His 204-ball 104 contained 15 fours.
England appeared to be demoralised and folding up quickly as they lost three wickets before tea. That was when Root counterattacked. With Bairstow showing willingness to fight after his departure, England saw through the remainder of the day. But with four wickets standing, it’s a question of when rather than what on the final day. India’s first series win against England after 2008 and three defeats appears to be hours away.
Brief scores: England 400 & 182/6 (Root 77, Bairstow 50 no, Ashwin 2/49, Jadeja 2/58). India 631 (Kohli 235, Vijay 136, Yadav 104, Rashid 4/192). Stumps, Day 4.