Captain Rohit Sharma and middle-order batter Ravindra Jadeja have smashed defiant hundreds to drag India out of the doldrums and to a comfortable 5-326 on the opening day of the third Test against England.
India were reeling at 3-33 inside the opening hour after Mark Wood proved the value of extra pace on a docile track at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
Rohit and Jadeja then rebuilt the innings with a 204-run stand to drag the hosts back into the contest.
Jadeja was still there on 110 at stumps, his fourth Test hundred, with nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav on one at the other end.
Rohit’s stellar 131 had contained three sixes, 14 fours and plenty of drama.
The opener suffered a blow to his helmet, was dropped at slip and succeeded in having an lbw decision against him reversed en route to his 11th Test hundred.
With the five-match series poised at 1-1, Rohit’s decision to bat on a flat surface was hardly surprising but Wood tormented the batters with his express speed.
The fast bowler had Yashasvi Jaiswal (10) caught in the slip in his second over and Shubman Gill fell caught behind for a duck in Wood’s next.
England captain Ben Stokes, playing his 100th test, introduced spin in the ninth over and was rewarded immediately as Tom Hartley dismissed Rajat Patidar for five.
Wood continued to bowl with relentless hostility at the other end, hitting Rohit on his helmet grille on one occasion.
The opener got a life on 27 when he edged Hartley and Joe Root spilled the catch at slip.
Rohit was adjudged lbw to James Anderson but the decision was reversed after replays confirmed the ball had hit bat first.
Rohit Sharma hits out at Rajkot. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Rohit and Jadeja denied England a breakthrough in the second session dragging India back into the contest.
Rohit took 157 balls to bring up his hundred and the muted celebration indicated his resolve to carry on but Stokes and Wood combined to scupper that plan.
The short-ball tactics they pursued against Rohit paid off as the batter slapped the ball from Wood to Stokes at midwicket.
Debutant Sarfaraz Khan shrugged off early jitters and raced to a 48-ball fifty before his entertaining knock of 62 was cut short, cruelly.
Jadeja was on 99 when his hesitation led to Sarfaraz being run out. A furious Rohit was seen hurling his cap on the floor in the pavilion after the dismissal.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: If you're an Aussie, then this could very well be the day satire died.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
At least Anderson didn't assault him
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Ross Taylor? It was said it's safer to run with scissors than with Ross Taylor!
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
England (Jimmy Anderson) displaying poor sportsmanship when Jadeja got his century - what a surprise. Worst sooks and hypocrites in world cricket at the moment.
Nudge
Roar Rookie
Captain and coach
Jon Snow
Roar Rookie
Couldnt help but think while watching that run out that a good roar article would be: "11 players you would invite to your barbecue". Ie the best barbecuers in world cricket. Inzamam for captain?
Nudge
Roar Rookie
Yeah the run out and the lead up was just so selfish of Jadeja. All he wanted was his hundred and he didn’t care about the guy on debut at the other end who was batting unbelievably well. It wasn’t just the run out but also the lead up. 2 overs earlier Jadeja defended to cover and took off for a dodgy single only to be sent back by Sarfaraz. Jadeja gave him the stare as if to say there was a run in that. A few balls later he defended again and took off in the same circumstances and Sarfaraz, who has probably idealised Jadeja for 10 years was never going to say no to him again and had to make a full length dive to make his ground. You would have thought that Jadeja would have woken up and thought to himself this blokes individual innings on debut is probably just as important as me getting a 100. I noticed he was still able to perform is sword act 2 minutes later when he brought up his ton. So poor
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Pace certainly accounted for Jaiswal and Gill but not sure it was much of a factor once the ball got soft. Rohit got himself out through tiredness and impatience but Jadeja and Sarafraz in particular made batting look pretty straight forward. Tom Hartley's great start to Test cricket suffered a reality check after Patidar gifted his wicket. 23 overs for 81 are not the worst figures, but he bowled at least one bad ball an over. No idea what's going on with Root, but he seemed out of sorts and not fully focused. Dropped a catch most good slip fielders would expect to take and went for more than 5 an over with the ball. Also not convinced by Stokes field placements. The commentators rave about how innovative he is but innovation without results is pretty meaningless.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
"Despite the inexperience in the Indian top seven, they’re still doing well". I'm guessing you mean across the series Arnab. Jaiswal, Gill and Patidar have had a Test to forget so far.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Jadeja barbecuing Sarfaraz has probably cost India a chance of getting 500+. Looks so good against spin on debut. Despite the inexperience in the Indian top seven, they're still doing well. First hour of day two could dictate the Test.
Linphoma
Roar Rookie
The run out was the only low point for Jadeja. At least he showed some humility after reaching the ton, right through to stumps.