Rohit Sharma’s knock of 161 on a challenging track helped India  seize the initiative with a solid opening day score of 300 for 6 against England in the second cricket Test in Chepauk on Saturday, reported PTI.

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane too looked comfortable during his knock of 67 off 149 balls as the duo added 162 runs for the fourth wicket, making it worth the effort for the 12,000 fans who flocked the Chepauk after  Indian cricket welcomed its fans back in the stadium amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rahane said, “The key was to use good footwork. We had the strategy (on the sweep shot), we did discuss the game plan on this, and wanted to make them bowl to our strengths, good that the plans came off.”

 Rishabh Pant’s (33*) dangerous presence could take India to a solid total as a score of 350 plus in the first innings will be equivalent to 550 plus on any other track. Pant had debutant Axar Patel (5) for company at stumps.

While Sharma had scored six Test hundreds prior to this knock, will be the first to admit that in terms of conditions on offer and the quality of attack he faced, the seventh one would be at the top of the list. Sunil Gavaskar said, “It is a difficult track where you don’t know whether to come forward or remain on the back-foot.”