ENG Vs IND Fifth Test: On a day where test specialists like Pujara, Kohli, and Vihari failed subsequently, guys like Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja took command and posted a partnership of 222 in just 239 balls to restructure India’s innings after they were left at 98/5 with impeccable English bowling.
Rishabh Pant went Bazball on his way to an 89-ball century, the fastest by any Indian wicket-keeper batter shattering the record of former Indian skipper MS Dhoni who smashed a ton in 93 deliveries against Pakistan at Islamabad.
Resilient Ravindra Jadeja too folded another end with some grit and ensured some serious frustration to England bowling comprising of legends like Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Jasprit Bumrah-led Indian team started the proceedings of the day with Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara appointed as the stand-in-opener after Rohit and Rahul were ruled out due to disease and injury respectively.
Gill looked promising at the start leaving the ball gently which came outside off stump. He even flicked drive-through covers and pulled deliveries before making the first and the last mistake of the day, going for a ball of 6th stumps and picking up edge straight to Crawley off Anderson.
James Anderson created an invincible record on Friday taking 100 wickets against India in England.
Pujara and Vihari started to build the score with some wonderful defence but the great Jimmy Anderson breached the resistance of Pujara providing another edge to Crawley at 2nd slip. Pujara fell for 13 off 46 balls.
Vihari too was struck in front after being set at 53-ball 20 by Matty Potts. Potts became Edgbaston's cause of joy in the next over as he picked up the biggest wicket of India, Virat Kohli (11) who decided late to leave it but the ball traced the bat and smacked into the wicket. Kohli’s lean patch continues.
At 98/5, India looked dismal and it looked like visitors will reach a maximum of 150 on the board observing the nature of the pitch and the brutal English pace bowling. But Delhi batter and Gujarat all-rounder had different plans.
While Pant believed in going behind the bowler, Jadeja’s equation said cool and calm composure is the key to taking on opposition- just like his forever skipper Dhoni.
Pant started to attack the English greats and in the process, also took Jack Leach on a roll, the guy who was coming into the match with a 10-for in the previous match.
One would not believe the same player was bashed at an economy of 7.9, leaking 71 runs off 9 overs.
Rishabh Pant completed his 5th test century in just 89 balls, this was the 4th overseas century by the 24-year-old, 2 in England and one each in Australia and South Africa.
He scored 146 with 20 fours and 4 sixes before being succumbed to Joe Root on a comparably slower and flighted delivery.
Jadeja is unbeaten for the day with 83 in 163 balls and will look to dominate when he along with Shami will start the proceedings on Day 2.
