2nd Test: India reach 157/2 at tea, Rohit misses out on a hundred

Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 83 on the opening day of the second Test between India and England. Sharma blended caution with aggression en route his highest overseas Test score. India reached 157 for 2 at tea. KL Rahul (55) and Virat Kohli are at the crease. 

Earlier, England skipper Joe Root won the toss and chose to bowl against India in the second Test match. India’s premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin missed out as it was Ishant Sharma replacing an injured Shardul Thakur. 

For England, batsman Haseeb Hameed comes into the side as Moeen Ali and Mark Wood also get a place in the playing 11.

“Going to bowl. Obviously a tinge of green but it’s more the overhead conditions. Got three changes: Hameed for Crawley, Wood for Broad, Ali for Lawrence. Do think it will spin at some point, it generally does here. Ali an experienced campaigner, offers us runs and wickets. Anderson went through all of the hurdles you have to jump when you think there could be something wrong. No issues there,” Root said after the toss. 

“We would’ve bowled first as well. But not too bad batting first as well, good opportunity to put a score. Ishant replaces Shardul, that’s the only change. We announced 12 within the group and Ashwin definitely was part of that. But this makes the most sense for us as a team. Everyone wants to contribute, it’s about getting into the game as a batsman. We just need to get the job done, whoever it is, that’s our main focus. Especially with crowds back in, it’s a pleasure to be here. An honour to play in front of crowds for what should be a cracker,” Kohli said. 

After being on the cusp of registering a win at Nottingham, a Shardul Thakur-less Indian side comes to the home of cricket – Lord’s, London. All eyes will be on how Virat Kohli performs with the bat under swinging conditions. The Indian skipper was dismissed in a 2014-like fashion off James Anderson in the first Test. 

For England, captain Joe Root comes into the match riding on a fine century. Ollie Pope and James Anderson were amongst the wickets. 

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

England (Playing XI): Rory Burns, Dominic Sibley, Haseeb Hameed, Joe Root(c), Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler(w), Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, James Anderson