Rahul dismissed for 199 as India makes strong reply

I thought I would get a double hundred easily. Notably, Karun Nair and Murali Vijay are on the field scoring 71 and 17 runs respectively.

“But I have to be grateful for the 199 runs I got there and I will have to live with this”.

Rahul appeared to be well set at the crease as he took his score past 150, and India past 290, before England chose to opt for the second new ball.

But the opening stand of 152 was a record for India against England at home. Yes, the ball beat the bat a fair bit, particularly Moeen’s off the bowling of R Ashwin, but even when the edge was taken, the ball barely carried. The 24-year-old was only the ninth batsman in Test cricket history and the second after former captain Mohammed Azharuddin to be dismissed on 199.

Chennai: The look of dejection writ large on his face, India opener KL Rahul walked back to the dressing room at the MA Chidarmbaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.

For someone who has scored 10 centuries in first-class cricket and averages in the mid-30s, Rashid has often come across as one who was least interested in batting in Tests.

India’s cricket scaled new heights as the Test side reclaimed its world number one ranking during their 3-0 whitewash of the touring New Zealanders in October and remained unbeaten in all of their 11 Tests in 2016. Rahul had scored 30 not out, while Parthiv made 29.

The pair raised a 151-run partnership, the best by India’s openers in this series before Patel miscued a flick off off-spinner Moeen Ali to Jos Buttler at point.

Ali’s 146-run third-wicket stand with Joe Root (88) remains the highlight of the innings, which also saw a fearless knock from Jonny Bairstow (49).

On a day Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli got out for low scores, it was important for others to bat long.

Karun Nair joined Rahul at the crease following Kohli’s departure and the duo proceeded to consolidate India’s position with a 161-run stand. The slow leg-cutter outside off-stump worked wonders as Kohli drove it straight to Keaton Jennings stationed at short extra cover, who gladly took a regulation catch; much to the dismay of the Chennai crowd.