Image Credit- BCCI
In the Dharamsala
Test, India took the scenic path to a commanding position in the contest. They
batted all day long to build a 255-run advantage over England with two wickets
remaining. With hundreds for Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and debutant Devdutt Padikkal,
as well as fifties for Sarfaraz Khan, the top order in India managed to record
an impressive total in the shadow of the Dhauladhars.
England’s fortunes
could not be turned around, not even by some Ben Stokes brilliance with the
ball. Having not bowled competitively since the second Test of the last Ashes
series, Stokes took Rohit’s wicket with his first delivery of the new series.
Once again, Shoaib Bashir impressed, showing both cutting edge and durability
while still dealing with the aftermath of a stomach ailment that limited his
participation in the build-up. In just his third Test match, Bashir could have
celebrated a second five-for if Zak Crawley hadn’t missed a close chance at leg
slip when Rohit was on 68 throughout his 44-over stretch, which tied the first
innings in Ranchi for the longest in first-class cricket.
Following a calm
morning session in which India had amassed 129 runs without losing, Gill’s off
stump was flattened by Rohit’s departure, and James Anderson claimed wicket No.
699 in Tests, providing England with a chance to recover. At one point the advantage
was 61 but any feeling of an opportunity for England was dashed by yet another
brilliant future collaboration between two batsmen.
At No. 4, Padikkal initially detected the border consistently while Sarfaraz
settled in. Sarfaraz reached his third Test half-century with a burst of
attacking shots after he had steadily increased his score to 9 off 30 balls.
Before Sarfaraz faced Tom Hartley with the second new round, Mark Wood was sent
flying into the audience with the second new ball as India extended their lead
beyond 150 at tea.
Following the break,
England struck once more quickly as Bashir trapped Sarfaraz at slip while he
was trying to cut back on the opening ball. To get his first fifty, Padikkal
casually lofted the England offspinner for six overs long-on. However, he was unable
to continue when Bashir caught him on the wicket with a ball that spun to smash
the top of off stump. After Dhruv Jurel holed out to give Bashir his fourth,
Hartley struck twice in the next over, first pinning Ravindra Jadeja leg before
wicket and then R Ashwin playing around an arm that continued.
By then, India had easily climbed to the top without any difficulty, and the
day’s outline was as distinct as the hills in the distance.