Under overcast conditions on a tricky green-top at The Oval, Karun Nair raised his bat high on an unbroken 52 not out to help India reach 204/6 in 64 overs at stumps on the first day of the fifth and last Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test against England.
Even though two long rain interruptions halted the day's proceedings, Nair's tireless fifty—his first in Test cricket since close to nine years—provided stability. With seven classy boundaries, his innings, combined with a gritty unbroken 51-run stand with Washington Sundar, ensured India finished the day on fairly positive terms.
For Nair, this performance will hold special significance as he made his comeback to the playing XI in the place of Shardul Thakur. His calm approach in a seam-friendly track reflected the determination and poise that have been observed in his batting at the top level for so long.
But India can also bemoan the absence of big contributions from the lower half of the batting lineup, particularly on a day made for bowlers. The choice of England to bowl first was justified early, as Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue took two wickets each, and Chris Woakes took one before he was out of action due to a left shoulder injury incurred while fielding.
Under overcast conditions, Atkinson gave England the first breakthrough when he got Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw with a wobble seam ball that seamed in off the surface. A reluctant review from stand-in captain Ollie Pope finally overruled the on-field call in England's favour.
KL Rahul and newcomer B Sai Sudharsan accumulated 28 for the second wicket with responsible shot choosing, but a scoring lull pressure after drinks resulted in Rahul chopping on to his stumps for 14 while trying a cut shot against Woakes.
Sudharsan subsequently milked his innings, hitting Tongue down the ground and Gill emulated him by lashing loose deliveries by Jamie Overton. Sudharsan's beautiful straight drive off Woakes was a highlight of the session.
Gill's series top-score total overtook Sunil Gavaskar's 732 runs in 1978/79 against the West Indies to make him India's leading-scoring captain in a Test series. Nevertheless, a sudden rainstorm put paid to further development, and lunch was taken early.
Gill's Dismissal, Nair's Arrival and More Rain
Gill, who had been delayed for more than two hours by rain, shook back into life against the moving ball. He settled a bit, though, with a sharp cover-drive off Overton before having a moment of hesitation in the 28th over. He tried a quick single and slipped, and Atkinson seized his moment to strike him back with a direct hit for 21.
Sudharsan was playing patiently on 26 (off 84) when the second rain break intervened, reducing the middle session to only six overs. Nair, who had just come in, having faced as yet only eight balls, was forced off along with the players.
After another over an hour's weather delay, play resumed with Sudharsan playing a couple of controlled cut shots for boundaries off Overton. However, Tongue's seam movement on a probing off-stump line soon paid him off.
He dismissed Sudharsan first, for 38, with a delivery that cut away just sufficiently to hit the edge. Four overs later, he did it again to Ravindra Jadeja, whose nervous poke was caught behind by Jamie Smith.
Nair benefited from a stroke of fortune when an inside edge off Wookes just went past the stumps, racing away for four. Meanwhile, at the other end, Dhruv Jurel glanced Woakes off the leg side and upper-cut Overton for yet another boundary. But his stay at the crease didn't last too long: first, he escaped an lbw decision against Atkinson on review, and then was caught on the next ball by Harry Brook at second slip.
Nair showed no signs of concern, clipping Overton midwicket for four. Sundar contributed to India's cause by glancing Atkinson for a boundary off a no-ball. After Woakes hurt his shoulder attempting to chase down a boundary that Nair smashed, the right-hander completed his half-century in 89 balls—also taking India past the 200-run mark just before the stumps were drawn.
Brief Scores:
India 204/6 in 64 overs
Karun Nair 52 (89), B Sai Sudharsan 38 (105);
Gus Atkinson 2/31, Josh Tongue 2/47, Chris Woakes 1/35
Read also| England Opts to Bowl First as India Brings In Jurel, Karun, Prasidh, and Akash
Read also| Rain Interrupts Play as India Reach 72/2, Early Lunch Taken on Day 1 at The Oval
