Young England pacer Sam Curran, who took 4 for 74 on the second day of the first Test, ran through the Indian top-order when India’s opening batsmen were going strong. But things changed when he found himself up against the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, who’s innings he has described as an ‘eye-opener’.
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After a steady start, Sam Curran struck thrice in eight balls to reduce India to 59-3 by dismissing Murali Vijay, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan. But, then walked in a determined Virat Kohli, who did look vulnerable in the beginning, but found his rhythm after spending some time on the crease to frustrate the England quickies with his resistance.
“We had them 100 for five, and felt in the game then Virat played really well with their tail and frustrated us a little bit,” Curran said. That’s what Test cricket is about you play against the best players.
“I’m only in my second game, but I think it was a little eye-opener for watching the way he bats and how precise you’ve got to be with your lengths,” said the left-arm pace bowler after close of play on day 2.
However, Sam Curran also said that luck played a role in Kohli’s innings and it could have been different story had they held onto their chances. “He did nick a lot of balls outside off-stump that didn’t carry as well. We stuck to our plans very well against him, and on another day they would carry,” Curran added.
Curran also said that he enjoyed sharing the bowling attack with his idols Anderson, Broad and Stokes, all these whom he had grown up watching. Bowling in just his second test match, 20-year-old Curran, who made his debut against Pakistan in June, impressed everyone with his fiery opening spell on Thursday.
India riding on a single-handed masterclass by their captain, managed to score 274 in the first innings. Kohli struck a splendid 22nd Test hundred under pressure, and took India to just 13 runs away from England’s total, despite losing partners at regular intervals.
At stumps on day 2, England were 22 runs ahead of India, but lost an important wicket in the form of Alastair Cook. India once again managed to shift the momentum in their favor by an impressive performance in the final session of the day’s play.
