COMMENTARY
A sensational day for India as Ravichandran Ashwin mesmerizes his home ground with the willow! After putting England into shambles with a fifer in the first innings, Ashwin was out to bat today with Virat Kohli as India lost its big guns early in the first session to England's spinners.
But as the spinners began to deteriorate with their line and length, Kohli and Ashwin turned on the heat on England with an electrifying crowd behind them. Post Kohli's dismissal, it was Ashwin all the way as he quelled the demons on the pitch en route an epoch-making fifth Test ton in his homeground.
England began its record chase on fine ground before Axar Patel and Ashwin found their rhythm once again. India heads into Day 4 with its head held high after a clinical all-round performance to make it level before the trip to Ahmedabad.
England 53/3 after 19 overs: STUMPS! Root survives! Some good fortune for the skip as umpire Nitin Menon sends in a shocker. Axar darts in a sharp, straight delivery that flummoxes Root. The ball zips through to Pant with the bat in close vicinity and perhaps the umpire would have called against it for a catch. India went for the review and finds that the umpire's call has saved Root. Kohli has a strained argument with the umpire as the teams walk back for the day.
England 50/3 after 17 overs: Axar to Leach. OUT! Leach is dismissed first ball! Axar sends in the slider that turns sharply against Leach who pokes at it. The ball turns and moves sharply to Rohit at leg-slip as he completes a swift take and that forced the England captain Joe Root out to the middle. Jack Leach c RG Sharma b Patel 0 (1b)
England 49/2 after 16 overs: Ashwin to Burns. OUT! The masterclass continues! It's a poor short from Burns as he dares to flick against Ashwin's drift from around the wicket. The ball takes the edge and lands straight in Kohli's hands. Kohli jumps in joy as England loses its openers before stumps. Jack Leach has come in as the night-watchman. Rory Burns c Kohli b Ashwin 25 (42b 4x4 0x6)
England 48/1 after 15 overs: Lawrence takes on Ashwin! Steps down the ground and smashes him for a six over long-on. England has come out with more positive intent this time around. The Ashwin hundred may have riled up on their ego.
India 35/1 after 12 overs: Lawrence has challenged to two boundaries after stepping down to him. Burns and Lawrence, both, standing on thin ice as Ashwin continues to beat the bat with prodigious turn and bounce.
England 17/1 after 9 overs: Axar to Sibley. OUT! Axar has him wrapped in the crease. Darts in a quicker and Sibley moves back into the crease. The ball hits flush in middle and the umpire gives it without any hesitaion. Dom Sibley lbw b Patel 3 (25b 0x4 0x6)
England 17/0 after 7 overs: Sibley and Burns seems a lot more confident on the shape-shifting pitch. Axar continues to attack the stumps while Ashwin's guile as beaten Sibley's edge on a couple of occasions.
England 8/0 after 4 overs: Ashwin replaces Ishant An instant difference with the new ball is felt between the English spinners and India. Axar and Ashwin have stuck to stricter lines to jeopardise the English openers first up.
Axar Patel shares the new ball.
England 6/0 after 1 overs: Burns and England off the mark with a boundary. Ishant strays onto the pads and Burns flicks it comfortably through square leg. Ishant continues to drag it towards the leg-stump, perhaps trying to repeat Burns dismissal in the first innings.
A mountain in front and England has been stupefied ahead of its record chase. A happy Indian side walks out to the field and so do the England openers, Dom Sibley and Rory Burns. Jeez, the pressure to see off the day!
India 286 all out after 85.5 overs: Bowled 'em. Stone dismisses Ashwin.
A drag down from a loose ball outside off and the ball chops back to the stumps. A sensational innings comes to an end as England is set a near-impossible
482 runs to win the second Test.
A standing ovation from his home ground and teammates as he walks back to the dug-out. A champion knock from Ashwin with extreme verve and dedication.
India 284/9 after 85 overs: Siraj launches another biggie. Ashwin gets off strike off the fourth ball and asks Siraj to defend. The No.11 decides to have some fun as he smokes Leach over midwicket for a cracking six and defends the final ball to please his senior partner of the final ball. The partnership has raced to 47 off 50 balls!
India 268/9 after 82 overs: Ashwin races to his 100! A fifth Test ton for No. 99 and gets to the feat at his home ground! Ashwin retained strike and thwacked Ali for a gorgeous six over deep mid-wicket to move to 97! Must admit, the sound of the ball hitting the bat was hair-raising stuff! A double later, he steps down and thick-edges Ali as the ball scurries to the third-man boundary as he notched up his ton. Lucky but well-deserved for the man who kept his word of putting up a score with the bat today.
India 251/9 after 81 overs: Ashwin storms into the 90s!
A blazing cut adorns the point region as the local boy moves forward. What goes against him is that Ashwin has failed to retain strike against Ali with the new ball.
England takes the new ball with Leach.
India 247/9 after 80 overs: Siraj keeps Leach and Moeen away! Leach beats the edge on couple of occasions and Siraj presents a dead bat for all six! A thumbs up from Ashwin and a massive roar erupts from the crowd. And it continues after Ashwin nearly chops onto his stumps against Ali after attempting a reverse sweep and only gets a single. Some poor bowling from Ali to Siraj as he comfortably dishes out the length deliveries despite six fielders around the bat.
India 242/9 after 77 overs: Leach to Ishant. OUT! Ishant gives it away again. Leach sends in a slower one and Ishant went low for the sweep and top-edges it. Olly Stone runs in from short fine leg and completes the catch as India loses its ninth wicket. Ashwin retains stike and cracks a boundary through mid-wicket and gets the strike for the next over with a single. Ishant Sharma c Stone b Leach 7 (24b 1x4 0x6)
Leach into the attack.
India 230/8 after 75 overs: Class from Ashwin and a hint of added aggression against Broad. Broad provides the hint of width and Ashwin gently lofts it down the ground for a beautiful boundary. The Chepauk crowd also applauds Ishant as he moves off a pair!
India 224/8 after 74 overs: Dropped by Foakes!! Ashwin steps out to hit Ali over long-on, misses and takes a faint edge. The ball scurries to Foakes who fails to hold on. Foakes slipped as the ball fell low onto him. Ashwin is undeterred and steps out once again and finds the ball landing between two fielders at mid-on.
Ashwin and Ishant walk out to bat. Moeen Ali to continue with the ball.
We are back for the final session!
India 221/8 after 73 overs: TEA. 65 runs and 2 wickets in 25 overs. Another session of domination despite India lost its skipper for 62. Kohli's fortitude led India's recovery after England snapped five in the first session and Ravichandran Ashwin came in as a breather for the captain. While Kohli nullified Moeen Ali and Jack Leach at one end, Ashwin swept and raked in the runs.
England's bowlers looked vulnerable as the ball began to soften up to foil its plans. Add to that, some inconsistent bowling from the spinners despite having had a brilliant start to the day. Joe Root was forced to retreat from his initial plans as India has come out with a plan to blunt the bowlers and forge some fatigue after the thrashing it received last week.
"We will be putting another batting performance in," fair to say Ashwin stood rooted to his words from yesterday.
India 220/8 after 71 overs: Ashwin marches on and how! Broad steams in with all vigour and Ashwin slams it straight back down the ground. For the first time, Ashwin has taken the punt to the pacers. Ishant at the other end has done well to keep Mooen Ali out in two successive overs. Ashwin has constantly sent in feedback for the lanky man from the other end.
Top wicket-taker in the 1st innings, top run-scorer in the 2nd innings!
India 210/8 after 68 overs: Ali to Kuldeep. OUT! Plumb in front as the around the wicket ploy seems to work for Ali in this spell. Ali flips it quickly through the air as Kuldeep pressed forward and had it hit on the pads. England finally can see the light through the door as India loses its eighth wicket. Kuldeep Yadav lbw b Ali 3 (9b 0x4 0x6)
Ashwin takes the lead past 400 with a boundary.
India 202/7 after 66 overs: Ali to Kohli. OUT! And a wicket against the run of play! Ali comes from around the wicket and drifts it in as Kohli moves back in the crease. The ball turns back to hit high on Kohli's pads and the umpire calls it out. The skipper's review goes in vain as Ali has Kohli for the second time in the Test. Virat Kohli lbw b Ali 62 (149b 7x4 0x6)
India 201/6 after 64 overs: 200 UP FOR INDIA! Kohli and Ashwin batting in some zone to take have taken it this far. England wouldn't have seen this coming with Ashwin in particular seeking to blunt the ball well. Broad has returned for a spell and has beaten both batsmen in couple of occasions but nothing that has put the pair in trouble.
India 196/6 after 62 overs:
Moeen Ali has returned to the attack and perhaps has induced just a pale drift from the pitch. Kohli and Ashwin have conjured the Englishmen and Joe Root seems to be out of plans for the first time in this series. India is happy to continue the torture and England would need to spur a moment of magic to stop the piling.
India 190/6 after 59 overs: Ashwin gets to his 1st fifty in 3 years! Stone is creamed through the covers with more of a swat from Ashwin as the pacer dishes a shorter delivery. A fifer to wreck England yesterday and an innings of the highest-order today, Ashwin is certainly in merriment at home!
India 183/6 after 58 overs:
The misery continues for England as Ashwin nears his fifty as well. Kohli all at home in this pitch but Ashwin has sprung up a surprise with his bustling stay at the crease to quell the spinners. With the ball scuffing up, England has not got the same drift on the ball like the first session and it has certainly piled on the agony.
Olly Stone into the attack. Just the two overs so far.
India 176/6 after 55 overs: 25th Test fifty for Virat Kohli! A stupendous display of batsmanship from the Indian captain. After receiving a snorter in the first innings, Kohli has returned to take control, much his usual self as the Indian top-order crumbled around him. Ashwin has earned himself a laudable position as he moves into the 40s as well.
India 169/6 after 53 overs:
Kohli and Ashwin have resumed batting with minimum fuss. Ali's ploys have been foiled well and Kohli has put out a masterclass in these tough conditions. Kohli has moved his back foot well outside off-stump to negate Ali the drift as his approach has enabled him to reach the pitch of the ball comfortably. The ball has softened up during it course and perhaps batting has eased out just that little bit.
The Chepauk crowd chants a birthday wish to Ben Foakes!
India 158/6 after 49 overs: Ashwin plays out Ali with ease on return. Ali strays onto the pads and creates no pressure whatsoever after the break.
Welcome back to the second session. Kohli and Ashwin are back. Moeen Ali with the ball for England.
Update: Our correspondent Ayan Acharya reports from Chepauk during the lunch break
India 156/6 after 48 overs: LUNCH. England takes a horrendous review with Lawrence sliding the ball down legside straight to Foakes. England review it for a caught behind and the reviews show clear daylight between Ashwin's bat and the ball. India now heads into the lunch with a massive 351-run lead.
England may have jolted India in this innings with the wickets of Rohit, Pujara, Pant, Rahane and Axar through the first session but it was already an innings too late! The Indian captain has stood tall at the crease and has already put his first innings dismissal with terrific control and resolve against the spinners. Ashwin has come out with a positive mind to wield the willow and swept the spinners away. Moeen Ali and Jack Leach have had their moments but grew inconsistent as the session went deeper. India has more than it would need on this dust-bowl but Kohli and Co. would have all eyes on inflicting a massive defeat here and they would definitely bat all the way.
Happy Birthday to the wily fox behind the stumps!
Dan Lawrence into the attack for the first time.
India 149/6 after 46 overs: Runs are coming at a decent clip for India. Ashwin has employed the sweep to good effect and Kohli is happy to play second-fiddle at the moment. Stuart Broad is into the attack after 45 overs and has induced an edge off Ashwin right away.
Setting up for Pink at Motera
India 138/6 after 43 overs: Ashwin on the charge! A third sweep shot to the boundary from Ashwin and Kohli applauds with his hands held high. India has gone past England's first innings score. Leach and Ali have bowled exceedingly well but has cropped up with inconsistent lines time and again with India cashing on them.
Joe Root replaces Moeen Ali.
India 124/6 after 40 overs: Kohli and Ashwin have combined well to chip in the runs. Ashwin's precise knowledge of the trade as helped him well against Ali. Kohli at the other end, has looked impeccable against the spinners today.
India 114/6 after 37 overs: Ali to Axar. OUT! Ali has Axar plumb in front. India goes for the review but in vain as Ali wraps the ball sharply into Axar's pads. India has lost its fifth wicket of the morning and the resistance is falling apart but Ashwin has come out aggressive. Ashwin has swept Ali for a cracking boundary and follows it up with reverse sweep for four! Axar Patel lbw b Ali 7 (18b 1x4 0x6)
India 102/5 after 35 overs: And India crosses 100 with some style. Axar Patel flicks a shorter delivery from Moeen Ali through midwicket. The skipper applauds the shot and England's spinners have again fallen into inconsistent lines on this pitch.
India 86/5 after 31 overs: Ali to Rahane. OUT! The wickets are tumbling down and England has a fourth for the morning! Rahane jumps forward to press the ball down but Ali induces an inside-edge. Pope dives forward from short-cover to gobble it and India's resistance is quickly falling apart. Ajinkya Rahane c Pope b Ali 10 (21m 14b 2x4 0x6)
India 82/4 after 29 overs: The ball has begun to spit fire on the pitch and Ali and Leach have made it tough for Kohli and Rahane. Rahane however gets away from the chains with two boundaries off poor deliveries from Moeen Ali.
India 65/4 after 26 overs: Leach to Pant. OUT! The plan seems to have worked as Leach signs towards Stokes. The duo had a talk ahead of the over about bowling to Pant and right on cue, Leach has delivered after coming from over the wicket. Leach draws Pant with a loop delivery to go for the heave over long-on. Pant misses it altogether and Foakes has another stunner behind the stumps! He messes up the stumps in a jiffy and India loses its third wicket of the morning. Rishabh Pant st †Foakes b Leach 8 (11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 72.73
India 61/3 after 25 overs: Kohli is off the mark after 19 balls! Ali and Leach have kept him quiet so far and the Indian captain has not been at his usual best in dodging the turn and bounce so far. Pant has come up the order over Rahane and it can only mean one thing from the Indian camp.
India 56/3 after 22 overs: Leach to Rohit. OUT!
Rohit doesn't escape this time as
Foakes casts a manic stumping! Rohit lunges forward with his big stride but Leach has sneaked throw with some drift and bounce. Foakes snaps the stumps as Rohit has his back leg right on the edge of the crease and nothing behind it.
Rohit Sharma st †Foakes b Leach 26 (70b 2x4 1x6)
India 55/2 after 19 overs: Moeen Ali to Pujara. OUT! A bizarre dismissal!
Pujara pushes Ali's ball straight to Pope at short leg after stepping down. Pope quickly flicks back to Foakes as Pujara's bat gets stuck in the pitch and he tries hard to scamper back with his hands. The replays have shown that Pujara has fallen short as Foakes' magic hands does the trick for England. Unlucky for Pujara as he wouldn't have assumed to walk back pretty soon in that fashion.
Cheteshwar Pujara run out (Pope/†Foakes) 7 (23b 1x4 0x6
Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujare walk out to the field. Moeen Ali up with the ball for England.
Game time, folks!
The Indian skipper seems to be testing the Hitman first up in the morning
Stat attack: Rohit Sharma needs 111* runs more in four innings to become the fastest Asian opener to 1000 Test runs. Will the Hitman close in on the milestone in the day's play?
A Ravi Ash presser is always an interesting viewing.
An hour away from action to resume. India will have all the time in the world to bat on and on to force England down the barrel, save for an excellent outing for its bowlers today.
Surely, about to make a lot of noise today!
Numbers Game - Day 2
Superman Pant woos Chepauk
ALSO READ | Rishabh Pant and Chepauk: an abiding love affair
Ravichandran Ashwin's record haul
Broad boils another duck
Ravichandran Ashwin cleaned up Stuart Broad for his 36th duck in Test cricket - the
joint-second most with Chris Martin . Courtney Walsh holds the dubious record of most Test ducks with 43.
Disciplined England makes India fight hard
India’s first innings total of 329 became the
highest innings total in Test matches without any extra runs conceded by the opposition. England's disciplined bowling broke the record held by Pakistan for its bowling performance against India in Lahore in 1955 where it conceded 328 without a single extra.
DAY 2 - REVIEW
It was India all the way as Kohli and Co. swept all three sessions on a tricky day 2 at a bustling Chepauk. England who began well by restricting the Indian innings to 329 early on in the day, was put to a test of nerve and aptitude.
On a challenging (not unplayable) track, England slumped to the loss of four top-order wickets before lunch.
A Ravichandran Ashwin masterclass was to follow as the English batsmen largely pre-empted the pitch to be a rank turner. Ben Foakes held fort with a dogged, methodical approach against the Indian spinners as wickets fell like ninepins at the other end. Foakes looked in commendable ease as he took on Ashwin's guile and Axar's precision while he remained unbeaten on 40 off 107 deliveries.
However, the Indians stormed to the top as Ashwin's 5/43 and the debutant Axar Patel's impressive 2/40 - including the wicket of skipper Joe Root - pushed England down the barrel.
India's second innings began in typical flair as Rohit and Gill provided a schooling for the English batsmen to see off some fine spells from the spinners.
India heads into day three knowing that it has the chance of toppling England within the end of day's play. But Virat Kohli and his men will also have the opportunity to drain Joe Root and Co. and sneak in a mental edge with the series poised for a interesting finish alongside a stirring context for the World Test Championship final qualification.
WATCH: CD Gopinath, the only surviving member of India's first-ever Test win in 1952 against England in Chennai, relives the historic moment.
What they said
“When I was watching the 2001 series between India and Australia when Bhajju pa was playing, I didn’t even imagine I would go on to become an off-spinner for India. I was still a batsman for my state. A lot of my teammates back then used to make fun of me because I used to try to bowl like him. From there, to break his tally has to be incredibly special. I didn't know about it. Now that I know, I feel happy,” Ravichandran Ashwin on breaking Harbhajan Singh's tally for second most wickets on Indian soil.
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India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj
England XI: Dom Sibley, Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes (wk), Moeen Ali, Olly Stone, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach
Toss: India won the Toss and elected to bat first
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