TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma hit India’s highest opening partnership total in England since 2007 while Virat Kohli loses eighth straight toss in the country
- KH Rahul’s last three Tests in England have brought him 423 runs
- His opening 126 with Rohit Sharma was India’s highest in the country since 2007
- Virat Kohli has now lost all eight of Test tosses in England
KL Rahul’s last three Tests in England have brought him 423 runs at an average of 105. He made 37 and 149 at The Oval in 2018, followed by 84 and 26 last week in Nottingham, and now 127 not out.
His opening partnership of 126 with Rohit Sharma was India’s highest in this country since 2007, when Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik, who is commentating on this series for Sky, began with 147 at Trent Bridge.
Only one other visiting pair of opening batsmen have added more in a Test in England after being put in: Australia’s Michael Slater and Mark Taylor put on 128 at Old Trafford in 1993.
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul celebrate their 100 partnership on a successful day for India
India’s Virat Kohli has now lost all eight of his Test tosses in England with just one game win
Cheteshwar Pujara’s dismissal for nine, caught low down at third slip by Jonny Bairstow off Jimmy Anderson, took his tally from his last 10 Test innings to 108 runs at 12. Despite his excellent overall record, he will be under pressure to make a score if India bat again in this game.
Virat Kohli has now lost all eight of his Test tosses in England, including the recent World Test Championship final against New Zealand. The previous seven games have produced five defeats, a draw and a win – at Trent Bridge in 2018.