Kohli's personal best helps India dictate terms

Virat Kohli's colossal 235, his personal-best as well as the highest individual score by an Indian captain in the longest format of the game, helped the hosts tighten their grip on the proceedings at the buzzing Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Sunday (December 11). Kohli provided the sort of entertainment that was befitting the Sunday atmosphere at the stadium, pushing India's lead past 200 in the company of Jayant Yadav, who scored his maiden Test century. To compound England's woes, Ravindra Jadeja and Bhuvneshwar Kumar left the visitors with an uphill battle to save the Test, and the series, as they were reduced to 49 for 3 at Tea. Bhuvneshwar dismissed Keaton Jennings, the impressive centurion from the first innings, for a duck with an around-the-wicket delivery that swung sharply into the left-hander, off the second ball of the innings. The full delivery swung back into the left-handed batsman, beat his inside edge and struck him on the front pad. Jennings consulted his captain but decided against the review - a good call, considering the TV umpire was likely to uphold the original decision, if his services were called upon. The post-Lunch session began with Jayant Yadav chasing his maiden Test century. He was gifted four runs by the umpire, after a ball from Rashid spun well and beat the wicketkeeper and slip fielder, to reach the third man fence. The Wankhede crowd, who were treated to a special knock by Kohli, had enough reasons to cheer for Jayant with as much fervour as the No. 9 soon reached his first Test century. Kohli, who spent the morning session tormenting the England bowlers, got going in similar vein, hitting Chris Woakes over the off-side field for a boundary in the fifth over after Lunch. Off Rashid in the next over, he surpassed Dhoni's tally of 224, against Australia in Chennai - the highest individual score by an Indian captain in Tests. A delivery later, however, the leg-spinner's long-drawn ploy of turning the ball in off the rough from way outside the leg stump, bore fruit as Jayant was stumped while trying to come down the track and play an inside-out stroke through covers. With Bhuvneshwar for company, Kohli decided to chance his arms. He hit Woakes for a six over the off side, but fell while trying to replicate his shot in the following over, as James Anderson completed a catch at deep extra cover. Kohli walked back, amidst a rousing ovation, but England's misery wasn't over still. Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar hit Woakes for three fours in an over and pushed India's total to 631 before Rashid dismissed the latter. After Jennings's early fall, it was down to the experienced duo of Cook and Joe Root to ensure England didn't suffer a familiar collapse. After just seven overs of pace, Kohli unleashed Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja on England. In a contrasting attack, Ashwin teased the England batsmen with flight and turn, while Jadeja typically fired in deliveries consistently at 90 kmph, not allowing the opposition to dig in. Given the turn and bounce on offer, the England pair were on tenterhooks in their bid to reach Tea without further damage. That endeavour was rendered futile as a flat delivery from Jadeja got Cook on the front pad. England's poor form with DRS continued, as another review went against them, giving the left-arm spinner his 100th Test wicket. An over later, Jadeja picked his second as Moeen Ali flicked another flat delivery, this time on middle and leg, to Murali Vijay at backward short leg. That wicket brought an end to the second session, with England struggling on 49 for 3.