4th Test, Day 3: Rohit checks another box with overseas 100, but goes before sealing the match

At stumps on Day 3, India had a lead of 171 runs with Kohli (22*) and Jadeja (9*) at the crease.

Indian opener Rohit Sharma slams his bat after completing his first overseas century during the third day of the fourth test match between England and India at The Oval, in London on 4 September 2021. | Photo: ANI

New Delhi: India’s poor luck on this England tour, which began with the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, continues during the fourth test of the series against the English. Almost as if by design it gets overcast, murky and humid when India bat, but sunny when it’s the opposition’s turn.

This tilts the balance of swing bowling power. That’s exactly how it’d turned out at The Oval so far.

But the Indian top order showed spine, skill and intent to defy the odds on the third day. With a 153-run second-wicket partnership, the fourth-best ever for India, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara tilted the ongoing fourth Test their way.

And then both fell to Ollie Robinson in the first over with the new ball. Captain Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, again promoted to bat at number 5 ahead of vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane prevented further damage.

At stumps, India had a lead of 171 runs with Kohli (22*) and Jadeja (9*) at the crease.

Good day for India

Day 3 of the series’ penultimate Test was filled with new records and a resurgence of India’s struggling batting order. Whether it is the placid pitch or return of form could be anybody’s guess.

After opener K.L. Rahul’s dismissal off James Anderson in the 18th over of the day, in came Pujara, and perhaps influenced by his teammate on the other end, batted in an unfamiliar attacking style.

Even the absent sun and grey skies above the Oval did not deter him as he sent a Chris Woakes delivery for an uppercut as if he was Virender Sehwag. Riding high on his red-hot form from the previous day, Sharma scored his maiden overseas Test century. Inspired by the opener yet again, Pujara delivered a crucial half-century at the cusp of tea break.

After a few episodes of misfielding and dropped catches, Robinson brought in the breakthrough England had been craving for since the start of the day. After 64 overs of a one-sided show at The Oval, Robinson sent back both Rohit and his partner-in-crime Pujara to the pavilion in a matter of just five balls.

Kohli tried to keep the momentum going by sending away two of Anderson’s deliveries past the boundary line, but the game was brought to halt due to bad light conditions, subsequently ending the third day of play minutes later.

First overseas Test century for ‘The Hitman’

Moments after Rohit Sharma became the eighth Indian to complete 15,000 runs in international cricket and the highest-ranked Indian batsmen in Tests Friday, former England cricketer Nasser Hussain’s three-year-old tweet went viral. The cricket commentator urged India to stick with the right-handed batsman despite his weary performance at the time.

And two .. if Rohit Sharma is not a test match batsman then I have been watching a different Rohit Sharma over the last 5 years !!

— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) January 26, 2018

No … you can’t be as talented as Rohit Sharma and not crack test cricket .. India needs to stick with him !! Don’t worry about the stats use your eyes and gut feeling..

— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) January 26, 2018

Little did anyone know that Day 3 of the Oval Test would have ‘Rohit Sharma’ written all over it. Keeping his head down and momentum high, Sharma worked alongside Cheteshwar Pujara to ensure India didn’t lose any wicket in the post-lunch session to register a 100-run lead for India.

And in the 63rd over of the innings, ‘the Hitman’ smashed Moeen Ali for a six, scoring his first overseas Test century and also completing 3,000 runs in the red-ball cricket.

Earlier in the day, Rohit had also reached 11,000 international runs as an opener, the fourth Indian to achieve the mark after the greats — Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag.

11000 international runs and counting as an opener for @ImRo45 👏#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/35r2rz2jjm

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 4, 2021

As the match heads into Day 4, India would hope to utilise the solid headstart given by the top order and in tandem revive its middle order. If England could revive its bowling spectacle from the first innings, the fans would be in for a thrilling contest.

Brief scores: India 191 and 270/3 (Rohit Sharma 127, Cheteshwar Pujara 61, Ollie Robinson 67/2); England 290.