Virat Kohli's men collapse to 78-all out, England 120 for 0, Both Openers 50+
This was only the 3rd time in Virat Kohli's captaincy that India have been bundled out for less than 100 in an innings in a Test match. India managed just 78 after being outclassed by England pacers on Day 1 of the 3rd Test at Headingley.
India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat against England in the third Test in Leeds on Wednesday. The decision, however, didn't quite benefit the visitors as an England pace attack led by the veteran James Anderson ripped into India's batting lineup. Anderson took three in the first session and Ollie Robinson grabbed a wicket on either side of Lunch before Craig Overton and Sam Curran made short work of India's lower order.
Everything went wrong for India right from the beginning, barring the toss. Once India opted to bat, James Anderson took over. By the end of 40.4 overs, only Rohit Sharma (19) and Ajinkya Rahane (18) made double-digit scores as India suffered a terrible collapse. Anderson took 3-6 in eight overs, including the prized wicket of India captain Virat Kohli for the seventh time in his career.
This was also India's third-lowest total in an innings on Day 1 of a Test match. They had registered 75 against West Indies in Delhi in 1987 and 76 vs South Africa in Ahmedabad in 2008 on Day 1 of those Test matches. Notably, under Virat Kohli's captaincy, India has recorded two totals of less than 100. The first one came in Adelaide last year -- 36, their lowest-ever Test total.
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer responded with a still from the movie 'Main Hoon Na', where actor Zayed Khan can be seen blocking the view of two of his friends while saying "Dekho mat, saha nahi jaayega (don't look, you won't be able to bear it)".
When India got the ball in hand, the pitch seemed to do little. England’s openers had no trouble whatsoever as all bowlers looked harmless. The only chance India created was when Hameed was on 46, but Rohit Sharma dropped a catch at slip off Jasprit Bumrah to allow the batsman to make a half-century. In short, nothing went right for India.
