Rishabh Pant’s blazing century gives India the upper hand on Day 2

It was the Rishabh Pant show in Ahmedabad on day two of the fourth test. The left-hander played some outstanding shots to rack up his first century in India and third in Test Match cricket. Pant walked in with India in a precarious position at 80-4 but played an incredible match-winning innings to give India a substantial lead in the first innings. Pant played the situation beautifully and showcased great patience at the start of his innings while England were on top before launching a brutal attack in the latter half of the day especially after the second new ball was taken. His first 50 runs took 82 balls while the next 50 runs came off only 32 deliveries. Pant’s sublime knock along with contributions from Rohit Sharma and Washington Sundar helped India take an 89 run at the end of Day Two.

England started the day in fine fashion with Ben Stokes, James Anderson and Jack Leach giving nothing away to the Indian batsmen. It was hard graft in the heat of Ahmedabad for the bowling side but England were disciplined and managed to restrict India to only 56 runs in the opening session. They eventually got their rewards for their attrition when Jack Leach dismissed Pujara for the fourth time in the series. They then got the prized wicket of the Indian Captain Virat Kohli thanks to a snorter of a delivery from Ben Stokes which took the edge and flew straight into the hands of the keeper. Rahane was able to counter-attack and score some quick runs for the hosts but was dismissed by James Anderson on the stroke of Lunch, which brought Pant to the crease.

Pant and Rohit were able to put a small partnership together but Ben Stokes was once again the difference maker for England and managed to get one delivery to fiercely tail in and trap Rohit on his pads for 49. India were put into further trouble following a soft dismissal for Ashwin which left them reeling at 146-6. Fortunately for India Pant and Washington Sundar were able to steady the ship and put on a partnership which took them closer to England’s total of 205. Pant, in particular, accelerated once he passed his 50 and took the charge to the tiring English bowlers as the second new ball was taken. He played the shot off the series against James Anderson in the 82nd over, a reverse lap sweep that flew over the slips to take him into the ’90s. He even brought up his century in true Pant fashion, a slog sweep over mid-wicket against the off-spinner Joe Root.

Thankfully for England, Pant was dismissed by Anderson right after reaching his century which spared them from any further damage late on in the day. The two left-handers Axar Patel and Washington Sundar closed out the day with India leading by a healthy 89 runs.