Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill smashed hundreds to propell India to 264/1 at lunch on Day two of the fifth and final Test against England at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Friday.
The hosts lead by 46 runs after bundling out England for a woeful 218 on the first day itself.
IND vs ENG: 5th Test, Day 2 – LIVE
Rohit (102 batting) and Gill (101 batting) were holding fort at the time of the break.
Rohit completed his 12th Test hundred, second in this series, with a single off 154 balls and Gill followed the suit, reaching his fourth Test hundred, in just 137 balls with a four as India marched to command.
England tried everything to contain them, whether it was employing the leg-slip for Rohit when Shoaib Bashir was in operation or Mark Wood using the odd short ball against the opening duo with as many as six fielders on the leg side.
However, nothing worked for the visitors despite the Barmy Army making a lot more noise than the Indian fans at the stunning HPCA stadium.
Home captain Rohit got a life on 68 when Zak Crawley missed a sharp catch at backward short leg but that was as close as England came to a breakthrough before lunch.
The overnight batters went after the bowlers right from the word go. The batsmen played out two quiet overs at the start before Rohit smashed Bashir for a six and four. Mark Wood replaced Anderson and Gill put him under the pump with a square cut and a beautiful cover drive. Sixty runs in 15 overs in the first hour of play summed up India’s intent.
The one shot that epitomised their approach was when Gill stepped out against James Anderson and hit test cricket’s most successful fast bowler over his head for a six.
Spinner Shoaib Bashir got a flick from Rohit but the ball flew past Crawley before the fielder could even cup his hand.
Rohit took a single off Tom Hartley to bring up his hundred, while Gill slog-swept Bashir for a four in the next over to reach the 100-mark.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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