Rohit Sharma's Indian team is in command of the fifth Test against England at Dharamshala, after the skipper and fellow opener Shubman Gill both scored centuries, on Day 2 of the game.
At Stumps, India's score was at 473/8, leading the visitors by 255 runs.
Resuming to the overnight score of 135/1, Rohit and Gill, in pristine weather and batting conditions, dominated the opening session of the day and put up 160-run stand, India's second consecutive hundred partnership in the series.
The duo was in no mood to let England into the game and both batters got their hundreds three balls apart. Rohit was the first to reach the three-figure mark, scoring his second hundred of the series and 12th overall, with a clip-through midwicket off Tom Hartley.
In the next over Shubman Gill brought up his second century of the series, and fourth in the format.
India went into Lunch with the score at 264/1.
Dharamsala: India's Rohit Sharma celebrates his century during the second day of the fifth Test cricket match between India and England, in Dharamsala, Friday, March 8, 2024.
(Photo: PTI)
England finally made a breakthrough after a challenging morning, and it was the captain Ben Stokes, who made the difference by introducing himself into the attack. Stokes had refrained from bowling since the Lord’s Test in June due to persistent knee problems that necessitated surgery before Christmas.
A fine knock from Rohit came to an end on the score of 103- the Indian skipper was beaten by an absolute peach that hits off stump.
Dharamsala: Indias Shubman Gill being greeted by Rohit Sharma after he hit century during the second day of the fifth Test cricket match between India and England, in Dharamsala, Friday, March 8, 2024.
(Photo: PTI)
Then, debutant Padikkal came to join Gill but James Anderson ended that partnership, sending Gill back on 110, for his 699th Test scalp.
Sarfaraz walked out at No. 5 for India, joining Padikkal. The pair steadied things for India and grabbed the momentum back after England's double-strike post-lunch.
Padikkal wasted no time showcasing his skills, consistently finding the boundary with seven well-timed fours. In contrast, Sarfaraz initially approached cautiously but quickly shifted gears, unleashing a barrage of aggressive shots to reach his third Test fifty.
Dharamsala: India's batter Sarfaraz Khan celebrates scoring fifty runs during the second day of the fifth Test cricket match between India and England, in Dharamsala, Friday, March 8, 2024.
(Photo: PTI)
India started the third session at 376/3, but England staged a fightback with Shoaib Bashir breaking the partnership between Sarfaraz and Paddikal, getting Sarfaraz out for 56. Then came a special moment for Padikkal, who brought up his half-century on debut, becoming the fifth member of India's top five to reach 50 in this innings.
Soon after, a ripper of a ball from Bashir dismissed Padikkal for 65, who was looking to defend from the crease. Then, another steady partnership seemed to be taking shape for India as Ravindra Jadeja and Dhruv Jurel collaborated to extend the lead beyond 200. However, Jurel's dismissal, caught at long-on, handed Bashir his fourth wicket.
Later, Tom Hartley got his first wicket of the match, trapping Jadeja lbw. The batter took a review and the ball-tracking showed that the ball crashed into the leg-stump. In the same over, he bowled Ravichandran Ashwin for a duck in his 100th Test. Following a brief surge from the English spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah showcased composed batting to thwart England's efforts. As a result, India stretched their lead past 450 runs.
(With inputs from IANS)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)