Virat ahead of Ganguly and other highlights from the third match

The third match

The first day of the third Test at Nottingham had some interesting results and developments. Captain Kohli and Rahane both scored fifties, which was instrumental in taking India’s score over 300 at the end of the first day. Though a few late wickets threw everyone off balance, debutant Rishabh Pant is still batting at the end of day one. The score stood at 307/6 at the end of the first day.

Virat Kohli broke Sourav Ganguly’s record of being the Indian captain to score most run in tests outside India. Ganguly’s record was with 1693 runs from 28 matches. He had an average of 43 with 3 centuries and an amazing 11 fifties.

An explosive debut

Debutant Rishabh Pant became the first Indian cricketer to hit a six and get off the mark in Tests. He is the 12th player in the history of Test cricket to start scoring with a six! Pant comes after Mark Craig of New Zealand, who hit a six on his first ball and Australia’s Eric Freeman, who hit a six on his second ball.

Other highlights

MS Dhoni, as captain, has 10 fifty-plus scores in England, while Kohli is inching closer with eight such scores across all formats. Unfortunately, this was also the second time Kohli was dismissed in his 90s in Tests.

Achievements did not just grace India, though. James Anderson became the second bowler to pick up 100 wickets against India in Test cricket, after legend Muttiah Muralitharan.

India’s total of 307/6 is also the third-highest score at the end of the first day of a Test in England. The highest is 324 scored in 1990 at the Oval.

It will be interesting to see how India bowls when England bats. Fingers crossed for India to score a win and not lose three times in a row. This five-match Test series has been in England’s favor since day one with the score 0-2 against India.

With all that has happened in the third Test match, all eyes are on India to make a triumphant comeback that they can continue for the next two matches. Our hopes and prayers are with the players.