India openers Rohit Sharma (20*) and KL Rahul (22*) ensured that the visitors ended Day two without losing any wicket as the scoreboard read 43/0 at Stumps.
As Indians have a good chance of getting a big lead in the second innings, former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta was skeptical about Indian batting unit not scoring 350 consistently.
While talking on BBC Test Match Special, Dasgupta said India’s batting is a cause of worry despite the pitch looking good for batting.
“They haven’t done that very often, have they (scoring 350 odd runs)? Every now and then they have, but not as consistently enough as they would like to. But this pitch looks really good,” the wicket-keeper batsman told BBCC Test Match Special.
“Pujara has scored runs last game. Virat is kind of looking his usual self last couple of innings. These openers – they have done such a fabulous job right through the series, creating that platform. They have done it again. One big box ticked today, but a few more to go tomorrow,” he added.
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The 44-year-old then made an observation about the pitch being used for the fourth Test at the Kennington Oval. Dasgupta pointed out that the pitch will be conducive to batting after the shine of the new ball has worn off.
“If you look at the last 50 odd overs that were played today, that gives you a fair amount of idea of how it might play tomorrow as well. Once that ball gets older, it hasn’t really done much. It’s not going to change much tomorrow,” the Kolkata-based cricketer said.
“Might be the odd ball which might keep a bit low. That should help the Indian mindset a bit, to know that going into Day 4, Day 5, that’s going to be a little more consistent, the variable bounce,” the former India cricketer concluded.
While England were 62/5, they managed to steady the ship and get 290 on the board getting a lead of 99 runs in the first innings. With India reducing the deficit to 56 runs, it will be exciting to see how the batters perform in the second innings as the series is well poised at 1-1.
(With BBC Test Match Special Inputs)
