Rohit Sharma-led India without the services of their established players -- Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and KL Rahul -- will go up against a high-on-confidence England side. After beating India in Hyderabad by 28 runs, England will be looking to capitalise against a depleted Indian team.
The second Test will be played in Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, a venue where India have won two out of two Tests. It is a venue where India tested Rohit as an opener for the first time and it paid off.
Here’s a look at India’s two Test wins in Visakhapatnam –
Kohli’s dominance and spin magic
The first Test played at the venue was in November 2016. Against Alastair Cook-led England, Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first. The Indian openers fell cheaply but Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli frustrated England bowlers. Pujara and Kohli shared a 226-run partnership for the third wicket. Pujara scored 119 whereas Kohli scored 167. Later, Ravichandran Ashwin’s half-century and Jayant Yadav’s 35-run knock helped India post 455 on the board.
In reply, England lost half their side for 80. But Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Jonny Bairstow's half-centuries helped them post 255. After a half-century, Ashwin did the damage with the ball as well picking up a five-wicket haul. In the second innings, captain Kohli stood tall while other batters faltered. His 81-run knock helped India post 204 and set a target of 405. Stuart Broad and Adil Rashid picked up four wickets each.
It was too big a target for England in the fourth innings. The top order showed promise but apart from skipper Cook's half-century only Bairstow showed fight with his unbeaten 34. Indian spinners accounted for eight wickets as England were bowled out for 158 and lost the match by 246 runs.
Rohit’s sensational opening debut
Nearly three years later, once again, Kohli won the toss and chose to bat first against South Africa. Mayank Agarwal and Rohit frustrated Proteas bowlers with the 317-run partnership. Rohit scored 176 featuring 23 fours and six sixes before getting stumped off Keshav Maharaj's bowling. Agarwal in his 215-run knock had identical numbers of fours and sixes. India posted 502/7 on the board.
In reply, South Africa lost four wickets for 63 but Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock's centuries helped them post 431. Once again, Ashwin was the wrecker-in-chief with seven wickets to his name. In India's second innings, Rohit scored another century. This time he hit 10 fours and seven sixes. With help from Cheteshwar Pujara's 81 and cameos from other batters, India posted 323/4 before declaring.
Chasing in India is always tough and a target of 395 did not do South Africa any favours. This time Mohammed Shami and Jadeja got into the attack. Shami picked up a fifer whereas Jadeja got four wickets. South Africa were down to 70/8 but a half-century from Dane Piedt and Senuran Muthuswamy's unbeaten 49 took them to 191. South Africa were bowled out for 191 and lost the match by 203 runs.
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