Virat Kohli’s career-best score and Jayant Yadav’s maiden Test century helped India post 631 and take a massive lead on day four of the fourth Test against England in Mumbai. Trailing by 231 runs at the start of their second innings, England lost three wickets before Tea and ended the day on 182/6.
At the start of the day, India had a lead of just 51 runs and three wickets in hand, but Kohli and Yadav put on 241 runs for the eighth wicket, breaking an Indian record, and converting a slender lead into one that not many thought were possible at the start of the day. Kohli finished on 235 while Yadav scored 104 to help India take a 231-run lead.
Extra Cover: Stats: Most runs by a batsman in a calendar year for India
In response, England didn’t get off to a great start as they lost first innings centurion Keaton Jennings for a golden duck and both Alastair Cook and Moeen Ali before tea. However, Joe Root’s counter-attacking innings helped them cross 100 but even he fell for 77 to Yadav. Ben Stokes and nightwatchman Jake Ball both fell to Ravichandran Ashwin before the close of play as the visitors still trail by 49 runs.
Jayant on advice from Kohli and Ashwin
Jayant Yadav, who scored a century and also picked up the crucial wicket of Joe Root spoke about how easy it is when he was out there with Kohli.
“I had a very good mindset when I was out there with Virat (Kohli). When you are batting with Virat things seem much more easier. It was a good partnership,” he said. “When they were bowling short balls he told me to pull. It simplifies a lot of things (on batting with Kohli). You also feel his energy, mindset.”
He admitted that he has been working on his batting and really wanted to “contribute more with the bat” after going wicketless in the first innings and also praised the atmosphere at the stadium.
“In that session I think they scored 89 runs out of 20 runs and we wanted to stem the flow and what better way to do that than getting a wicket (Root’s dismissal). More than anything, Ashwin gives situational advice. What the batsman is trying to do, what lines to bowl, what can be better, something on those lines.”
Here are the reactions from the cricket fraternity:
It was Kohli who dominated the headlines once again and he earned plenty of praise. Kevin Pietersen:
VVS Laxman:
Virender Sehwag:
Former England captain Michael Vaughan:
David Warner, who himself, has over 2,000 international runs in 2016:
Mohammed Shami:
Aakash Chopra:
Pragyan Ojha:
Russel Arnold:
Isa Guha:
Joe Root wasn't forgotten, VVS Laxman:
Aakash Chopra:
Michael Vaughan:
Jayant Yadav, who scored his maiden Test century also earned some plaudits. Alex Tudor:
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