By: Sandipan Bose
It’s a cliche but people still believe that a session is good enough to change the complexion of a Test match. The ongoing Test match between India and England in Mohali is a classic case of how things can change within minutes if luck isn’t on your side. When India took lunch on Day Two of the third Test against England.
The hosts were driving home the advantage with some superb batting display after demising England in the first innings. At the loss of one wicket, India were right on the money as Parthiv Patel and Cheteshwar Pujara were in complete control of things.
Thereafter, the hosts lost the wicket of Patel and that enabled captain Virat Kohli to walk into the crease. Both Kohli and Pujara too batted with authority and kept the England bowlers at bay. In the post tea session, a poor shot selection from Pujara changed the course of the game completely.
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The one-down Pujara got out while mistiming a short-arm pull shot. In the process, India lost three more wickets in quick succession.
India, who were in cruise-control in the first two sessions of the game on Day 2, lost plenty of momentum to England after losing the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane, debutant Karun Nair and Kohli in the last session of play. Those dismissals also exposed the Indian lower middle-order quite badly.
With only five regular batsmen in the team, India were fortunate to get the services of Parthiv Patel as a regular opener. He justified his selection in the Test team in place of regular Wriddhiman Saha.
Yes, he did drop a few opportunities, which could have sealed England’s innings on the opening day. But Patel made up with some fine batting at the top of the order as an opener.
From here on it will be interesting to see how India fightback in the ongoing Test after frittering away an advantage!
