Xtra Time Web Desk: Umesh Yadav gave India a huge breakthrough by getting rid of in-form England captain Joe Root (21) to see the fourth test match evenly poised after Day 1 at the Oval on Thursday. At stumps the hosts are 53/3 in response to India’s 191 all out. Jasprit Bumrah removed the openers Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed in one over.
All rounder Shardul Thakur saved India the blushes with some sensational strikes to take the total close to 200 in the final session. Shardul scored 57 off 36 balls which included 7 boundaries and 3 sixes.
England produced another top-class bowling effort after winning the toss with Chris Woakes taking four wickets and Ollie Robinson taking three. Robinson has now dismissed Kohli for the third time in the series with the India skipper departing after a well-made fifty. India reached 122 for six at tea.
India struggled against the moving ball in the morning session, struggling to 54 for three at lunch.
Earlier in the day Joe Root put India in to bat amid overcast conditions. Coming back from injury, Woakes made instant impact by having Rohit Sharma (11) caught behind in his first over. Robinson then trapped K L Rahul (17) with a ball that nipped backed in. Cheteshwar Pujara followed an out-swinger from James Anderson only to edge it to the wicketkeeper to leave India reeling at 39 for three.
The Indian team management surprised everyone by sending Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant. But the move did not work as Jadeja was dismissed for 10 caught by Root off Woakes.
Brief scores: India 191 all out in 61.3 overs (Virat Kohli 50, Shardul Thakur 57; James Anderson 1/41, Ollie Robinson 3/38, Chris Woakes 4/55, Craig Overton 1/49). England 53/3 in 17 overs (Joe Root 21, Dawid Malan batting 26; Jasprit Bumrah 2/15).