Fresh from the historic win in Australia, the Indian test team should have been brimming with confidence. The fans were certainly high on expectation of a repeat of the masterly performance against the visitors from England. However, this was not to be. India may have started out as the favourites to win, but England under Joe Root quickly showed us what’s what.
England made 578 in their first innings, India replied with 337. England made 178 in their second innings, leaving India a difficult but getable target for day 5 of the match. India meekly collapsed for 192 in their second innings.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s 6 wickets in England's second innings and later skipper Virat Kohli’s 72 gave some people hope, but that was short-lived.
The tweeple were delighted; hoping that nothing would spoil the way things were going.
The sort of grit Indian tailenders had shown in Australia was altogether missing.
Skipper Joe Root had other ideas.
While day five started out on a hopeful note, it was soon evident that India was heading for a big collapse.
…Is clearly not the same as the Australian team.
Some recalled the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, the stand-in captain for India’s so-called B team.
The Indian bowlers bundled out England in just 178 runs, but in the end, the Indian batsmen were not quite up to the job.
It was his hundredth test and he did it in style with his sharp captaincy, double century and player of the match award.
The captaincy of Kohli received criticism and that of Root drew praise.
Quickly fans were pointing out that this was Kohli’s fourth test loss in a row.
Not happy-making ones.
Now people are looking forward to the next match and to Kohli’s promise of a fightback. The second test against England starts on 13th at the M Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
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