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Patna : India were 300/6 in 88 overs in their first innings at stumps on Day 1 in 2nd test against England at M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, Tamilnadu, on February 13, 2021, as opener Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane added 162 runs for the 4th wicket.
It was a day mostly belonging to India as they scored 300/6 on Day 1 on a which which was offering turn and bounce usually seen on Day 4 and Day 5. They lost three wickets each in both first and third session of the play with Hitman Rohit Sharma dominating the show with his outstanding batting scoring 161 in 231 balls with 18 fours and 2 sixes while Rahane scored 67 in 149 balls with 9 fours. Rohit had got slightly slower in post-tea session. Rahane hit more fours than Rohit in post-tea session. Incidentally, both got out in quick succession which brought England back into the game. A score of around 350 should be a good score on this wicket.
Opting to bat after winning the toss, India were soon in trouble as they lost their first wicket that of opener Shubman Gill with no run on board. Gill fell to fast bowler Olly Stone for zero and it was 0/1. Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara then added 85 runs for the third wicket. But, then Pujara fell to spinner Jack Leach for 21 in 58 balls with 2 fours making it 85/2.
Captain Virat Kohli was bowled by spinner Moeen Ali for a duck and it was 86/3. But, thereafter, Rohit and Rahane steadied the ship. Rohit fell to Jack Leach for 161 making it 248/4. Rohit reached his 7th test century in 130 balls. One run later, Rahane fell to Moeen Ali for 67 and it was 249/5.
Rishabh Pant (wk) and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin added 35 runs for the 6th wicket. Ashwin fell to England captain Joe Root for 13 and it was 284/6. Pant and debutant Axar patel have so far added 16 runs in their unbroken partnership for the 7th wicket. At stumps, pant was unbeaten on 33 in 56 balls with 5 fours and 1 six while Axar Patel was batting on 5 hitting 1 four.
For England, spinners Jack Leach and Moeen Ali have taken two wickets each while captain Joe Root and fast bowler Olly Stone have taken one wicket each.