A sensational hundred by Rishabh Pant and a brilliant unbeaten half-century by Washington Sundar has helped India wrestle back the initiative from England as they recovered from a precarious position of 6/146 to finish the day at 7-294 with an overall lead of 89 runs.
Team India were dealt with back-to-back body blows on the second morning of the fourth Test with Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli once again failing to notch up a big score in this series. England bowlers were right on the money in the morning session as the likes of James Anderson, Ben Stokes, and Jack Leach bowled with great discipline, ensuring that India scored a mere 17 runs in the first 15 overs, losing two wickets in the process.
The wicket of Rahane meant England bossed the first session as they gave away just 56 runs and took three big wickets in the form of Pujara, Kohli, and Rahane. India started off on a positive note in the afternoon session as Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant scored 41 runs in the first 13 overs. Sharma once again looked imperious during his stay at the crease. During his knock, he became the fastest Indian opener to score more than 1000 runs but just as it looked like he was warming up for another big knock
The southpaw brought up his 100 with a typical slog-sweep off Joe Root. Pant got brilliant support from Washington Sundar as the duo went hammer and tongs against the new ball. Pant was eventually dismissed for 101 but Washington continued with his merry way to bring up his third Test fifty. Washington Sundar and Axar Patel ensured that India did not lose any more wickets as India finished the day with an overall lead of 89.
On Day 1, England was bundled out for 205 in 75.5 overs as spinners Axar Patel (26-7-68-4), Ravichandran Ashwin (19.5-4-47-3) and Washington Sundar (7-1-14-1) toyed with the already messed up minds, clueless on how to deal with the conditions.
India vs England 4th Test match scorecard
| Batsman | Dismissals | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
| Shubman Gill | lbw b Anderson | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Rohit Sharma | lbw b Stokes | 49 | 144 | 7 | 0 |
| Cheteshwar Pujara | lbw b Leach | 17 | 66 | 1 | 0 |
| Virat Kohli | c Foakes b Stokes | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | c Stokes b Andeson | 27 | 45 | 4 | 0 |
| Rishabh Pant | c Root b Anderson | 101 | 118 | 13 | 2 |
| R Ashwin | c Pope b Leach | 13 | 32 | 2 | 0 |
| Washington Sundar | not out | 60 | 117 | 8 | 0 |
| Axar Patel | not out | 11 | 34 | 2 | 0 |
| Total: 294-7 in 94 Overs | |||||
| Bowler | Overs | Maiden | Runs | Wickets | |
| James Anderson | 20 | 11 | 40 | 3 | |
| Ben Stokes | 22 | 6 | 73 | 2 | |
| Jack Leach | 23 | 5 | 66 | 2 | |
| Dominic Bess | 15 | 1 | 56 | 0 | |
| Joe Root | 14 | 1 | 46 | 0 | |
England’s tour of India 2021.
ICC World Test Championship
India needs to win or draw the fourth Test match against England to qualify for the final of ICC World Test Championship (WTC). New Zealand has already qualified for the final, scheduled to take place on June 18-22, at Lord’s cricket ground.
