The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium is Gujarat's first solar-powered stadium located in Rajkot, India.

Also known as the Khandheri Cricket Stadium, the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium was established in 2008 and has a seating capacity of 28,000.

The Rajkot Cricket Stadium is part of a larger sports complex that features venues for other sports such as badminton, basketball, and volleyball as well. 

It is the home ground of the Saurashtra team in domestic cricket and also the Indian cricket team.

The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium staged its first international cricket match, an ODI between India and England, in January 2013. The visitors won the game by nine runs after scoring 325/4.

It later hosted its first T20 International (T20I) played between India and Australia in October 2013. India chased down Australia’s 201/7 with six wickets and two balls to spare.

Three years later, the stadium hosted its first Test match played between India and England in November 2016. The match ended in a draw.  

Since then, it has staged one more Test match so far. Let’s have a closer look at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot Test records and stats.

Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot Test records and stats

Highest total

The Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Test cricket. During the first Test of the West Indies tour of India in 2018, the Virat Kohli-led hosts posted a mammoth total of 649/9d after electing to bat first. Captain Kohli led from the front as he slammed 139 along with contributions from Prithvi Shaw (134), Ravindra Jadeja (100 not out), Rishabh Pant (92) and Cheteshwar Pujara (86) to help India register a record Test total at the venue. India later bowled out West Indies for 181 and 196 in their two innings to win the Rajkot Test by an innings and 272 runs.

Lowest total

The West Indies cricket team registered the lowest total at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Tests. The Kraigg Brathwaite-led visitors were skittled out for 181 in 48 overs in their first innings of the opening Test of West Indies�tour of India in 2018. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the wrecker-in-chief with four wickets for just 37 runs to help India enforce a follow-on after they posted 649/9d in their first innings. West Indies were once again bowled for 196 in the second innings as they succumbed to an innings defeat.

Most runs

India’s Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli share the record for the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format. Between 2016 and 2018, Pujara amassed 228 runs in two Test matches at an average of 76.00, including one hundred and one fifty. On the other hand, Kohli accumulated 228 runs in two matches at an average of 114. The former India captain has also slammed one hundred at this venue in Test cricket. Among the visiting teams, England's Ben Stokes holds the record for the most Test runs at the venue. The southpaw scored 157 runs in two innings in 2016.  

Most wickets

India’s star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has picked up the most wickets at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Test cricket. The right-arm off-spinner scalped nine wickets in two matches at an average of 37.55. He has one four-wicket haul at this ground in Tests. England leg-spinner Adil Rashid features second on the list with seven wickets in the only Test that he played at the venue in 2016.

Highest individual score

India talisman Virat Kohli registered the highest individual score at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Tests. Batting at number four, Kohli scored 139 off 230 balls against West Indies in the first innings of Rajkot Test in 2018. His magnificent century was laced with 10 fours. His innings helped India post a massive total of 649/9d in their first innings. India won the Test by an innings and 272 runs.

Best bowling figures in an innings

India’s Kuldeep Yadav recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in 2018. The left-arm wrist spinner registered brilliant figures of 5/57 to help bundle out West Indies for 196 in their second innings. Kuldeep dismissed Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Sunil Ambris and Roston Chase as India later won the Test by an innings and 272 runs..

Best bowling figures in a match

Adil Rashid holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. The veteran leg-spinner took seven wickets during the first Test of England’s tour of India in 2016. While Rashid scalped four wickets for 114 runs in the first innings, he bagged three more wickets for 64 runs in the second innings. Rashid’s magnificent performance helped England put the hosts under pressure as they secured a draw in India. 

Highest partnership

India’s Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara recorded the highest partnership at this ground in Test cricket. Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara forged a huge 209-run stand for the second wicket in their first innings of the opening Test against England in 2016. Vijay scored 126 while Pujara slammed 124. The Rajkot Test later ended in a draw.

Photo credit: Alamy

Established in 2003, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is a world-class cricket venue located in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Also known as Uppal Stadium, the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium is named after the former prime minister of India Rajiv Gandhi.

Owned and operated by Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), the stadium has a seating capacity of over 39,000.

The venue is the home ground of Hyderabad cricket team and Hyderabad women's cricket team in domestic cricket. It is also the home ground of the Hyderabad franchise in the Indian T20 League.

The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium staged its first international cricket match, a one-day international played between India and South Africa. The visitors won the game by five wickets.

Five years later, the stadium hosted its first Test match played between India and New Zealand in November 2010. The match ended in a draw.

Since then, it has staged five Test matches so far. The ground has also hosted two T20 internationals.

Let’s have a closer look at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium Test records and stats.

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium Test records and stats

Highest total

The Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Test cricket. During the only Test of Bangladesh’s tour of India in 2017, the Virat Kohli-led hosts posted a mammoth total of 687/6d after electing to bat first. Captain Kohli led from the front as he slammed 204 off just 246 balls along with contributions from Murali Vijay (108) and Wriddhiman Saha (106 not out). The Indian trios knocks in addition to fifties from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane helped India register a record total on the board. With the help of their first innings total, India later won the Test by 208 runs.

Lowest total

The West Indies cricket team registered the lowest total at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Tests. The Jason Holder-led visitors were bowled out for 127 in 46.1 overs in their second innings of the second Test of West Indies�tour of India in 2018. Electing to bat first, West Indies posted 311 before India scored 367 in reply. In the second innings, pacer Umesh Yadav bagged four wickets while Ravindra Jadeja picked three wickets to bundle out West Indies for a low total. Chasing 72, Prithvi Shaw and KL Rahul guided India to a 10-wicket win in Hyderabad. India won the two-match Test series 2-0.

Most runs

India’s Cheteshwar Pujara has scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format. The right-handed batter has accumulated 510 runs in four Test matches at a staggering average of 127.50. Pujara has also slammed two hundreds and as many fifties at this venue in Test cricket. His highest Test score of 204 at the Hyderabad Stadium came against Australia in 2013. Virat Kohli is second on the list with 379 runs in four Test matches.

Most wickets

India’s star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has picked up the most wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Test cricket. Between 2012 and 2018, the right-arm off-spinner bagged 27 wickets in four matches at an average of 16.03. He has one four-wicket haul and three fifers at this venue in Tests. Ashwin’s teammate Ravindra Jadeja features second on the list with 15 wickets in three Tests.

Highest individual score

Former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum registered the highest individual score at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Tests. Opening the innings, Brendon McCullum scored 225 off 308 balls against India in their second innings of the second Test during New Zealand’s tour of India in 2010. His magnificent double century was laced with 22 fours and four sixes to help New Zealand salvage a draw in Hyderabad.

Best bowling figures in an innings

India’s Ravichandran Ashwin recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in 2012. The right-arm off-spinner registered brilliant figures of 6/31 to help bowl out New Zealand for 159 in their first innings. Ashwin dismissed Martin Guptill, captain Ross Taylor, Daniel Flynn, Jeetan Patel, Trent Boult and Chris Martin as India later enforced follow-on. The hosts won the Hyderabad Test by an innings and 115 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Best bowling figures in a match

Ravichandran Ashwin also holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The veteran spinner took 12 wickets during the first Test of New Zealand’s tour of India in 2012. While Ashwin scalped six wickets for 31 runs in the first innings, he bagged another six wickets for 54 runs in the second innings. Ashwin’s magnificent performance helped India win the Test by an innings and 115 runs. The hosts later won the two-match series 2-0.

Highest partnership

India’s Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay recorded the highest partnership at this ground in Test cricket. Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay forged a massive 370-run stand for the second wicket in their first innings of the second Test against Australia in 2013. Vijay scored 167 while Pujara slammed 204. India won the Test by an innings and 135 runs. India won the four-match series 4-0.

Photo credit: Alamy

Boxing Day Test matches are cricket matches that are typically held on December 26, a day after Christmas, in Commonwealth nations Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. But, the most popular one takes place at Australia’s iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

There are many reasons as to why December 26 is called Boxing Day. While one states that the date got the name because alms boxes were traditionally opened in churches on the day, others state that servants were given presents on December 26 for working on Christmas Day.

With Boxing Day also celebrated as the feast day of St Stephen, the patron saint of horses, December 26 sees numerous sporting events held across the Commonwealth nations falling under the Southern Hemisphere.

Australia, New Zealand and South Africa reserve the day for teams who visit them during the summer months of December, January, and February.

Boxing Day Test matches: History and popularity

The history of Boxing Day matches dates to 1892 when Victoria and New South Wales clashed at the MCG in a Sheffield Shield match over the Christmas period. December 26 was, however, just one of the scheduled playing days and not the starting date of that match.

The first Boxing Day Test match was played during the 1950�1 Ashes Test series. That year, the Melbourne Test was played from December 22 to 27, through Christmas, with the fourth day falling on Boxing Day. Australia won a thriller by just 28 runs.

After South Africa’s tour of Australia in 1952, there were no Boxing Day Test matches held from 1953 until 1966. Test matches on Boxing Day resumed in 1967, against India, but it was held at the Adelaide Oval and started on December 23.

The Boxing Day Test match returned to the MCG the following year against the West Indies, and it started on its traditional date but the subsequent years, the calendar remained erratic. Either the traditional day was skipped, ended on the said day or was held at the Adelaide Oval.

However, it wasn’t until 1980 that the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Australian cricket board decided to secure the rights and begin an annual tradition of a Test match on Boxing Day at the MCG.

Prior to that, the MCG had seen only four Test matches between 1952 and 1980, held in 1968, 1974 and 1975. Adelaide held three Boxing Day Test matches as well, in 1967, 1972 and 1976.

The 1975 Boxing Day Test match, where the Australian cricket team had defeated a Clive Lloyd-led West Indies team by eight wickets, had gained iconic status with nearly 85,000 visitors at the MCG on the first day.

However, the highest footfall was recorded during the 2013 Boxing Day Test between Australia and England, where the MCG saw 91,112 visitors.

The Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has produced several memorable moments over the years. It was in 1985 when Aussie legend Steve Waugh made his Test debut and in 1988, West Indies speedster Malcolm Marshall picked up his 300th career Test wicket. In 1994, spin wizard Shane Warne recorded a hat-trick against England and in 2006, again facing the English, picked up his 700th Test wicket.

It was even a witness to ugly incidents, like in 1995 when umpire Darrell Hair no-balled Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan seven times in three overs for allegedly chucking the ball.

Pace ace Brett Lee also made his Test debut on Boxing Day against the Indians in 1999, picking up a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

In 1989, the only ever Boxing Day ODI was played out between Australia and Sri Lanka.

Indian cricket team in Boxing Day Test matches in Australia

The Indian cricket team had first played Australia in a Boxing Day Test in 1985 and have been frequent visitors to the MCG since. India have been part of the Boxing Day Test nine times - in 1985, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2020.

However, India have lost five times, won two and drawn twice in their eight Boxing Day Test matches.

The Indian centurions in Melbourne are Virender Sehwag (1), Virat Kohli (1), Ajinkya Rahane (2) and Sachin Tendulkar (1).

India’s record in Boxing Day Tests in Australia

Sussex (SUS) will lock horns with Lancashire (LAN) in the first semi-final of the English Domestic One-Day Cup 2022 at County Ground in Hove on Tuesday, August 30. The match will start at 3:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).

Led by veteran Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, Sussex stormed into the final four of the ongoing 50-over tournament after topping Group A. With six wins and just two defeats, Sussex finished at the top of the Group A standings, gaining 12 points from eight matches.  

On the other hand, Lancashire beat Nottinghamshire by three wickets in their quarter-final clash to set-up a semi-final encounter against an in-form Sussex. The  Keaton Jennings-led side earlier finished second in Group B standings, registering five victories, two defeats while one match was abandoned.

SUS vs LAN Dream11 prediction for English Domestic One-Day Cup 2022

Sussex head into their semi-final clash brimming with confidence as they are currently on a four-match unbeaten streak in the ongoing English Domestic One-Day Cup 2022.

Furthermore, Sussex have won three of their last five matches against Lancashire in the English Domestic One-Day Cup.

However, the last time these two sides met in the tournament, Lancashire secured a two-wicket win over Sussex last year.

Going by their head-to-head record and recent form, Cheteshwar Pujara-led Sussex will start as favourites against Lancashire heading into Tuesday’s semi-final encounter.

SUS vs LAN Dream11 team tips for English Domestic One-Day Cup 2022

Top Tip: Best batter 

Sussex captain Cheteshwar Pujara will be the batter to watch out for in the first semi-final. The 34-year-old is currently the second-highest run-getter in the English Domestic One-Day Cup 2022, amassing 614 runs in eight matches at an average of 102.33 and a strike rate of 116.28. Having already accumulated 790 fantasy points, Pujara will be a quality investment at 10 credits.

Top Tip: Best bowler

In the bowling department, Aristides Karvelas of Sussex will be a worthy pick at 9 credits. The right-arm pacer has already picked 19 wickets in eight matches at an economy of 5.12. Karvelas will look to add to his fantasy tally of 645 fantasy points against Lancashire.

Top Tip: Best all-rounder and wicket-keeper

Among the all-rounders, one must pick Sussex’s Delray Rawlins in their fantasy cricket team. The 24-year-old batting all-rounder has scored 202 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 135.57 while also maintaining a decent average of 33.67. Along with his batting, Rawlins has bagged 14 wickets at an impressive economy of 4.61. Having amassed 813 fantasy points, picking Rawlins in any fantasy team is a no-brainer.

For the wicket-keeper spot, Sussex’s Tom Alsop will be the overwhelming choice over George Lavelle of Lancashire. Besides fulfilling his wicket-keeping responsibilities, Tom Alsop has amassed 371 runs in just seven matches at an average of 74.20 and a strike rate of 105.10. At 9 credits, Tom Alsop could be a game-changer to any fantasy team.

SUS vs LAN playing XI (probable)

Sussex playing XI (probable): Tom Alsop, Ali Orr, Tom Clark, Cheteshwar Pujara (captain), Delray Rawlins, Oliver Carter (wicket-keeper), Fynn Hudson-Prentice, James Coles, Aristides Karvelas, Henry Crocombe, Bradley Currie

Lancashire playing XI (probable): Luke Wells, Keaton Jennings (captain), Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Dane Vilas, George Balderson, George Lavelle (wicket-keeper), Danny Lamb, Liam Hurt, Jack Blatherwick, Jack Morley

Interested in cricket betting? Click here to check out the list of top sites.

Featured photo: Sussex

India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has been in sensational form in the ongoing English domestic One-Day Cup.

Playing for Sussex, Cheteshwar Pujara has already amassed 614 runs in eight matches at a staggering average of 102.33 and an impressive strike rate of 116.28. The 34-year-old has smashed three hundreds and two fifties in the tournament so far.

The right-handed batter has recorded hundreds against Warwickshire (107), Surrey (174) and Middlesex (132).

Pujara is currently the second highest run-getter in the ongoing 50-over tournament and is only 44 runs behind leading run-scorer Stephen Eskinazi of Middlesex.

Such has been his incredible consistency, the Rajkot-born cricketer has registered scores of 9, 63, 14*, 107, 174, 49*, 66 and 132 in his eight innings of the ongoing edition of English domestic One-Day tournament. 

 

Pujara’s scintillating form has powered Sussex to the semi-final, having topped Group A standings with 12 points from eight matches.

With his match-winning ton against Middlesex, Pujara has also completed 5,000 runs in List A cricket since making his debut for West Zone in the Deodhar Trophy in 2006. The India international has now accumulated 5,059 List A runs in 111 matches at an average of 57.48, including 14 centuries and 31 fifties to his name. Pujara’s 174 against Surrey is his highest individual score in List A cricket.

Apart from showing his class in the One-Day format, Pujara also dominated bowlers in the County Championship Division Two. 

Representing his county Sussex in his debut season, the India Test specialist has amassed 1,094 runs in eight matches at an average of 109.40, which includes five hundreds. He also slammed a double hundred against Middlesex - his third double ton in county cricket and his 16th overall in first-class cricket.

Cheteshwar Pujara scores in County Championship Division Two 2022:

6 & 201* vs Derby

109 & 12 vs Worcester

203 vs Durham

16 & 170* vs Middlesex

3 vs Leicestershire

46 vs Leicestershire

231 & 2 vs Middlesex

 49 & 46* vs Nottinghamshire 

Cheteshwar Pujara scores in One-Day Cup 2022:

9 vs Nottinghamshire

63 vs Gloucestershire

14 vs Leicestershire

107 vs Warwickshire

174 vs Surrey

49* vs Durham

66 vs Somerset

132 vs Middlesex

Cheteshwar Pujara for Sussex in 2022

Tournament	Matches	Innings	Runs	HS	AverageÂ	Strike rateÂ	100	50
One-Day Cup	8	8	614	174	102.33	116.28	3	2
County Division 2	8	13	1094	231	109.40	60.10	5	0

Previously, Pujara had smashed double hundreds against Durham and Derbyshire during his county stint for Sussex in 2022.

Following his impressive run in the County Championships, Pujara made a comeback to India’s Test team for the rescheduled fifth and final Test against England at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in July. India went on to lose the match in which Pujara scored 13 and 66 in the two innings.

Interested in cricket betting? Click here to check out the list of top sites.

Featured photo: Sussex Cricket

 

After suffering a 1-2 series defeat against South Africa in the rainbow nation, out-of-form senior India cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have been dropped for the upcoming two-Test home series against Sri Lanka starting in March.

While both Pujara and Rahane were part of the Indian cricket team’s several impressive Test series victories in the last decade, the duo have struggled with their form in the last two years.

Since the start of 2020, Rajkot-born Pujara could manage just 973 runs in 38 innings at an average of 26.29. Though the Saurashtra cricketer registered eight half-centuries during this time, his last century came during the 2018-19 tour of Australia.

Similarly, Rahane has also been short of runs for the last two years, amassing 819 runs in 35 innings at an average of 24.08 with three fifties and one century during this period.

 

The below-par performances from both Pujara and Rahane forced the selectors to take a harsh decision, leading to their removal from the Test squad.

Here we look at a few players who can permanently replace Pujara and Rahane in the Indian Test playing XI:

Hanuma Vihari

While Hanuma Vihari hasn’t been the most consistent since making his Test debut against England in 2018, the 28-year-old has impressed in his short international career and is expected to be given a longer run in the middle-order in the upcoming Test matches. So far, Vihari has scored 684 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 34.20 with four fifties and one century to his name. The right-hander also had a successful South Africa tour for India A, registering scores of 54, 72*, 63, and 13* besides making a fighting unbeaten 40 in the second innings of India’s second Test against South Africa last month. Considering Vihari’s solid technique, he could become a vital cog in the middle-order for years to come.

Shreyas Iyer

Mumbai cricketer Shreyas Iyer hogged the limelight after he slammed a hundred on his Test debut against New Zealand in Kanpur. Iyer became just the 16th Indian cricketer to register a ton in their debut Test match. The 27-year-old continued to impress in the series as he amassed 202 runs in two Tests at an impressive average of 50.50. He could be a perfect replacement for Ajinkya Rahane in the middle-order but it remains to be seen if Iyer can cash in on this opportunity and finally live up to his billing as one of Indian cricket’s brightest talents.

Shubman Gill

With captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul expected to open the innings for India in the longest format, the team management could utilize highly-rated Shubman Gill in the middle-order. The Punjab-born cricketer has already played some scintillating innings at the top of the order, scoring 558 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 32.82.

 

 

However, experts believe that with the kind of technique that Gill possesses, he might flourish batting in the middle-order in Test cricket. While he has mostly batted as an opener in his brief Test career so far, a move down to the middle order could be just what Gill needs to start flourishing and fulfill his promise as a batter in the Indian red-ball team.

Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal has performed exceedingly well when given an opportunity in the Indian Test set-up. The swashbuckling opener has accumulated 1429 runs in 19 Test matches at an average of 43.30. He has hit four tons as well as six half-centuries in his Test career so far and has performed in pressure situations and difficult conditions abroad. However, with Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul set to be the first choice openers in the Indian Test playing XI, Agarwal getting a spot at the top of the order seems highly unlikely although Rahane and Pujara’s exclusion may have just paved a way for him into the team at number five.

Featured photo: WILLIAM WEST /Patrick HAMILTON /Punit PARANJPE /AFP

India’s opening batter Shikhar Dhawan has scored the most runs in a single edition of the Under-19 World Cup. 

During the 2004 Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, Dhawan amassed 505 runs in seven matches at an impressive average of 84.16. The swashbuckling southpaw smashed three hundreds and one fifty in the tournament. 

Dhawan smashed 155 off 138 balls against Scotland and followed it up with another impressive hundred (120 off 148 balls) versus hosts Bangladesh. He registered his third ton against Sri Lanka, scoring a 136-ball 146.

Interestingly, the New Delhi-born cricketer has been the only batter till date to score more than 500 runs in a single edition of the Under-19 World Cup.

Second on the list for most runs in a single edition of the Under-19 World Cup is former Australia cricketer Brett Williams. 

During the inaugural edition of the Under-19 World Cup in Australia in 1988, Williams accumulated 471 runs in nine matches at an average of 52.33. The right-handed batter smashed two centuries and three fifties in the tournament.

Former Australia captain Cameron White is third on the list for most runs in a single edition of the Under-19 World Cup. White scored 423 runs in eight matches at an average of 70.50 during the 2002 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. He registered one hundred and two half-centuries to his name.

England’s Jack Burnham and West Indies�Alick Athanaze complete the top five list for most runs in a single edition of the Under-19 World Cup. 

While Burnham amassed 420 runs in six matches during the 2016 edition in Bangladesh, Athanaze registered 420 runs in the same number of matches in the 2018 edition held in New Zealand.

Most runs in a single edition of Under-19 World Cup

Player	Runs	Year
Shikhar Dhawan (India)	505	2004
Brett Williams (Australia)	471	1988
Cameron White (Australia)	423	2002
Jack Burnham (England)	420	2016
Alick Athanaze (West Indies)	418	2018
Shadman Islam (Bangladesh)	406	2014
Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)	400	2020
Dominic Hendricks (South Africa)	391	2010
Anamul Haque (Bangladesh)	365	2012
Chris Gayle (West Indies)	364	1998
Cheteshwar Pujara (India)	349	2006
Graeme Smith (South Africa)	348	2000
Tanmay Srivastava (India)	262	2008

Featured photo: FARJANA K. GODHULY / AFP

Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and England pacer James Anderson were involved in a heated exchange during the first session on Day 4 of the second Test at Lord's on Sunday.

The visitors seemed to be under the pump after losing both their in-form openers KL Rahul (5) and Rohit Sharma (21) with India reeling at 27/2 before Kohli walked into bat at No. 4 at the end of the 11th over.

The short delivery does the trick for Mark Wood as he dismisses Rohit Sharma!

He is on

are 27/2.#WTC23 | #ENGvIND | http://t.co/rhWT865o91 pic.twitter.com/zdIwKBBRU7

�ICC (@ICC) August 15, 2021

As India felt the pressure, tempers flared between Kohli and Anderson during the 17th over of the day. Team India skipper was spotted complaining to the umpire that the veteran England fast bowler was deliberately running on the danger zone of the pitch, which further irked Anderson who later exchanged heated words with Kohli.

“You swearing at me again are you? This isn't your fu**ing backyard," Kohli was heard telling Anderson on the stump mic.

"Chirp chirp chirp. This is what old age makes you do," Kohli added after Anderson completed his fifth delivery of the over.

While at the crease, Kohli looked in good touch before poking at a delivery from England left-arm pacer Sam Curran. The Indian captain ended up giving a simple catch to wicket-keeper Jos Buttler and was dismissed for 20.

Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane stitched a 100-run partnership to bring India back into the game.

#TeamIndia's lead now surpasses 1���

A gritty stand between @cheteshwar1 & @ajinkyarahane88 is going strong. #ENGvIND

Follow the match http://t.co/KGM2YELLde pic.twitter.com/tj626YvKeN

�BCCI (@BCCI) August 15, 2021

However, both Pujara (45) and Rahane (61) fell in quick succession as India found themselves in trouble again at 167/5. The hosts piled on the misery as they then went on to pick the crucial wicket of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (3) after he was cleaned up by Moeen Ali.

India ended Day 4 at 181/6 with Rishabh Pant (14) and Ishant Sharma (4) batting at the crease. The visitors lead by 154 runs with four wickets in hand heading into the fifth and final day of the second Test.

Featured photo: Glyn KIRK / AFP

Opener Shubman Gill is doubtful for at least the initial part of the Indian cricket team’s five-Test series against England with a leg injury. This means India will have to pick another opening partner for Rohit Sharma.

India have reserve openers in their Test squad in Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul, as also Abhimanyu Easwaran, who was picked as a standby opener but is now expected to be added to the main squad. Hanuma Vihari and Cheteshwar Pujara have also done opening duty for India in the past. We take a look at each of these options:

Mayank Agarwal

Agarwal was India’s first-choice Test opener for a couple of years after his debut against Australia in Melbourne in December 2018. However, successive scores of 17, 9, 0 and 5 on India’s next trip to Australia in 2020-21 led to Gill taking over the spot. Agarwal hasn’t played a Test since Brisbane in January, where he batted in the lower-middle order. On paper, he is the front-runner to take back his spot from the injured Gill.

KL Rahul

Rahul has the most opening experience among the reserves, and played all five Tests against England on the previous tour in 2018. Scores of 4, 13, 8, 10, 23, 36, 19, 0 and 37 were unimpressive, although he redeemed himself a bit with 149 in the fifth Test, by when the series had been lost. An average of 34.58 after as many as 36 Tests meant he lost his place, and has not played a Test match in two years.

Abhimanyu Easwaran

The Bengal opener is yet to make his debut for India, but he has played 14 first-class games for India ‘A� He has also opened in red-ball cricket in England before, making 23 and 31 for India ‘A�against West Indies ‘A�in an unofficial Test in Taunton in 2018. Given Agarwal and Rahul’s presence in the squad, it is unlikely that Easwaran will get a look-in for the England Tests unless there is a freak injury or two.

Hanuma Vihari

After just four Test innings at the No. 6 position, Vihari was asked to open at Melbourne in 2018. He fought hard, surviving 111 deliveries in the match, creditable for a makeshift opener. India’s preference for five bowlers has limited the opportunities for him. His part-time off-spin can be handy at times. But India is unlikely to go for his part-time opening skills in England of all places. He presents a left-field option nonetheless.

Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara averages an incredible 116 as Test opener, although only across six innings, and all of them in the Indian subcontinent. His steady approach has helped India win two Test series in Australia but there are questions over his effectiveness at No. 3 in England. An advantage of having Pujara open is that it will allow a busier batter such as Rahul or Agarwal to drive the innings forward at No. 3.

Featured photo: AFP / Glyn Kirk

For about an hour at Lord’s in 2018, it looked as if the Indian cricket team would finally be able to form a partnership without Virat Kohli’s presence in the middle. It was their fourth innings of the five-Test series against England, and Cheteshwar Pujara was fighting the good old fight, alongside Ajinkya Rahane.

As always, he was doing it his way: watching the ball ever so closely, pulling his bat away from deliveries in the channel, making no attempt to go for wider ones, and squeezing out the odd run when the rare ball arrived on the pads.

Pujara stood firm for 17 off 87 balls, easily the most faced by an Indian batsman in the entire match. Then Stuart Broad came up with the big, surprise inswinger, and even Pujara could not keep it from rattling the stumps.

The Pujara method

The third-wicket stand had resisted for almost 13 overs, but had added only 22 runs. Not for the first time, Pujara’s method had come unstuck in difficult batting conditions and India had gone nowhere despite playing out some time.

It is an approach that has brought him 6,267 runs in 86 Tests at an average of 46.08. That is overwhelming proof that it works, and has been working for years now.

He averages 56.31 in India and 47.28 in Australia, places where playing out time �the Pujara method �tires out the bowlers and blunts the new ball, making it progressively easier for him and the more aggressive batsmen following him. India’s twin Test-series wins in Australia owe their weight in gold to Pujara.

Little return in England

But bowlers do not tire as much in England’s cooler weather. And the Dukes ball used there keeps moving around even in the 60th over. You may have faced 150 deliveries with a defensive mindset but the 151st could still be unplayable.

An approach that stresses primarily on spending time at the crease is thus high risk for little return in typical English conditions. Pujara faced 134 balls for only 23 runs in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. New Zealand’s four specialist fast bowlers kept charging in, and India’s scoreboard remained stuck.

Pujara’s balls per dismissal in England �72.1 �falls considerably compared to his overall career number -- 103.22. Tellingly, among the 66 visiting batsmen to have faced at least 1370 Test deliveries in England �the same number as Pujara has �his 523 runs (average 27.52) are the fewest.

More ‘intent�/strong>

There has been a lot of pressure over the years from the Indian team management on Pujara to show more ‘intent.�It has also resulted in ridiculous outcomes such as him taking needless risk and being run out twice in the same Test, at Centurion against South Africa in 2018.

Into his 34th year, there is next to no chance of Pujara altering his approach. And for good reason too; it has brought him 6000-plus Test runs. But it largely hasn’t worked in England; his only century there came in almost Indian conditions in 2018 in Southampton, where even Moeen Ali’s part-time off-spin claimed nine wickets. His two fifties in England came in a high-scoring draw in Nottingham 2014 and after India were sitting pretty on an overall lead of 228 in Nottingham 2018.

‘Take more risks�/strong>

After the WTC final defeat, Kohli said that he wanted his batsmen to take more risks. “The mindset has to be to score runs and find ways to score runs,�Kohli said. “You can't be too worried about getting out because you are bringing the bowler into the game completely and not moving the game forward�/span>

"The idea from here on will be to try to score runs and not worry about getting out in testing conditions�otherwise you're just literally standing there hoping that you don't get out and eventually you will because you're not being optimistic enough.�/span>

Bring Rahul or Agarwal in?

If Kohli wants someone to drive the innings forward at No. 3 in England, Pujara is not going to be that man.

Without any disrespect meant to Pujara’s overall record, India should consider playing one of their brisker reserve openers �Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul �in his place, at least for the first two or three Tests against England in August.

They had played Rahul at No. 3 instead of Pujara for the series opener in Birmingham in 2018 but brought the Saurashtra batsman back for the remaining four Tests.

An alternative could be that Agarwal opens along with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill drops to No. 3, a position some think he could be more suited to.

Pujara is already going to be remembered as one of the finest of Indian cricket, and being dropped for the specific conditions of England in a few Tests is not going to change that.

Author: Abhishek Purohit

Featured Photo: AFP / Glyn Kirk