KL Rahul became the 10th Indian batter to put his name on the Lord’s Honours Board as he notched up his sixth Test hundred to put India on the driver’s seat at stumps on Day 1 of the second Test. After losing the toss on a cloudy morning the visitors showcased a brilliant application with bat in hand and ended the day at 276/3.
The 126-run opening stand between Rahul and Rohit Sharma set the tone for India. Rohit unfortunately, perished for 83 and missed out on what would have been a well-deserving hundred, but his partner made the most of his opportunity and remained unbeaten at 127 at the end of day’s play alongside Ajinkya Rahane, who survived 22 balls for his 1 run.
Both Rahul and Rohit started cautiously under testing conditions. After putting India in, England would have expected their seamers to make early in roads. James Anderson and Ollie Robinson were quick to get into their grooves with the new ball under a heavy cloud cover.
However, the Indian openers carried their form from Trent Bridge, and showed discipline and patience to negate the lateral movement of the ball, both in the air and off the pitch, by playing late, often, with soft hands, and leaving effectively outside off stump.
India scored only eight runs in the first nine overs of the match. However, as they got themselves in, runs started to come, especially from the bat of Rohit. At the other end, Rahul were more watchful.
The first session was interrupted by rain, and India were 46/0 without loss.
The weather improved in the second session, as did India’s scoring rate. Though there were not many expansive shots, the Indian openers got their runs, taking advantage of every loose ball.
Anderson eventually castled Rohit with an in-dipper in the 44th over to draw the first blood for England. He soon got the out-of-form Cheteshwar Pujara for 9, too, and at tea India were 157/2.
Virat Kohli and Rahul then added 117 for the third wicket to keep the English bowlers at bay. Towards fag end of the day, Robinson got the Kohli for 43 with the second new ball.
Both teams opted for four fast bowler on a pitch that has seemed flat so far. With Shardul Thakur injured, India included Ishant Sharma ahead of R. Ashwin. England, on the other hand, opted for Mark Wood – who bowled impressively throughout the day without any luck – in place of Stuart Broad. They also picked Haseeb Hameed and Moeen Ali ahead of Zak Crowley and Dan Lawrence.
Brief scores: India 276/3 (KL Rahul 127*; James Anderson 2-52) vs England.