ENG vs IND 2018, 1st Test: Day 2 -Twitter Reacts as Virat Kohli Saves the Day for India

India Cricket team skipper Virat Kohli single-handedly guided India closer to England’s total in the first essay despite losing wickets on a consistent basis from the other end on Day 2 of the first Test at Edgbaston.

Meanwhile, England lost their veteran opener, Alastair Cook, in a similar fashion from the first innings as the umpires put curtains on Day 2’s play. As a result, England finished on nine for the loss of one wicket, thus leading by 22 runs. Virat Kohli’s ploy to hand Ravichandran Ashwin once again paid off as he castled the southpaw’s timber.

Previously, England rode on Sam Curran to drew first blood into the batting order of India. He sent the top-order back to the pavillion in a span of nine runs. However, Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan got a perfect start adding 50 runs for the first wicket.

Vijay was the first one to get out followed by KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan. Since then, skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane ensured no further damage as they went to lunch with three wickets down.

However, India lost Rahane just after the lunch while Kohli kept the scoreboard ticking. Virat Kohli was absolutely magical throughout his knock as he played some gorgeous looking shots. He dominated all the English bowlers piercing the gaps with ease and rotating the strike.

Virat Kohli plays a spectacular knock

But the England bowlers kept picking wickets from the other end as Ben Stokes brought his 100th Test wickets. However, Virat Kohli looked confident as he batted with the tailenders to reach to his maiden hundred in England. He was delightful to watch as all the spectators stood in the applause of Indian skipper.

India, meanwhile, fell 13 runs short as Virat Kohli was the last man to depart on 149 runs. Furthermore, his glorious knock included 22 boundaries and six to take India closer to the target.

Previously, England lasted just 10 deliveries in the morning session. Mohammed Shami bowled two inswingers and followed it up with one that goes away. Curran pokes at it away from the body and gets a thick edge and a simple catch for Dinesh Karthik. He doesn’t drop it this time and India wraps things quickly.

Here is how the Twitter reacted:

A very important knock by @ImVkohli. Lovely way to set up the Test series. Congrats on your Test hundred. #ENGvIND

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 2, 2018

Virat Kohli completes 7000 runs in International cricket as captain in just 124 innings. He is the quickest to the milestone surpassing Brian Lara who needed 164 innings.

A difference of 40 Innings!!! #ENGvIND

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) August 2, 2018

First Century. First of Many. Well played, Virat Kohli. Best batsman on the planet. #EngvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 2, 2018

You cannot drop Virat Kohli unless you have an Amir in the team. #EngvInd

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 2, 2018

Time and again Kohli’s showing the side of his batting that’ll put him in the pantheon of all time greats across formats….self belief and the will to fight is unmatched. If others play well around him, he’ll finish this tour with two…if not three tons. #EngvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 2, 2018

All with the score on 100:
1. Rahane caught
2. Karthik bowled; Stokes' 100th Test wicket
3. Pandya lbw then overturned
4. Kohli dropped at 2nd slip
5. Pandya dropped at 1st slip#ENGvIND

— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) August 2, 2018

Nothing shot from Rahul. Could hear that thick edge in press box. Bit of booing as Virat walks out to bat. #EngvInd

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) August 2, 2018

Bhuvi effect (or lack of) in Tests too… Shami in at no.9 is a long-ish tail in England. #EngvInd

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) August 2, 2018

Nobody wants to take slip catches. #EngvInd

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) August 2, 2018

Test bowling at its best .. Test Batting at its Best from @imVkohli .. These last 2 days have given us all a reminder why it’s the best format by a country mile … #ENGvIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 2, 2018

That’s an incredible knock @imVkohli !!! 1 man battle against the moving ball ….. #ENGvIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 2, 2018

Form is temporary, class is permanent and nobody exemplies that bettter than @imVkohli! "But he hasn't scored in England!" can be put to rest. Time to shut up, bow down to the greatness of the man and enjoy watching him bat because he's bloody good at it! #ENGvIND

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) August 2, 2018