'Iconic image': Virat Kohli's stunning act against England
England captain Joe Root was the star of the show on the first day of their Test series against India, but it was counterpart Virat Kohli who provided the highlight of the day.
The England captain had demanded a big first-innings total from his team after electing to bat at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday.
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And Root led by example when England threatened to squander their strong start, partnering the dogged Sibley in a marathon 200-run stand to help England post a strong 3-263 at stumps.
Root's unbeaten knock of 128 was studded with 14 boundaries and a six, continuing his magnificent start to 2021 with a third century in three Tests, following his heroics against Sri Lanka.
While it didn’t looks like India had any answers for Root, Kohli came to the England captain’s aid when he cramped up after playing a sweep shot against Ravi Ashwin.
Root couldn’t help but chuckle as Kohli helped him stretch out the cramp, much to the delight of fans on social media.
This is going to be ab iconic image. Fantastic from @imVkohli to help @root66 emphasises cricket is THE GREATEST GAME #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/ETpdZf9tSU
— simon hughes (@theanalyst) February 5, 2021
Joe Root smacks the world's best spinner for 6, falls over with cramp before the ball clears the fence, lies on the floor laughing, and Virat Kohli, his opposing captain, helps him stretch it out.
Test cricket is the best sport in the world.— Tom Dare (@Repka) February 5, 2021
This was so easily my moment of the day. The polar oposite of day one of the 2018 series.
— Matt (@mattress25) February 5, 2021
Joe Root having cramp, hitting a six, and then being helped to stretch by Virat Kohli is test cricket in all its glory #INDvENG
— William Kedjanyi (@KeejayOV2) February 5, 2021
Virat Kohli helping Joe Root with cramp. My word. 😍 pic.twitter.com/KR5Mdpav7k
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) February 5, 2021
"It's a very special day," Root said after becoming the third Englishman after Colin Cowdrey and Alec Stewart to score a hundred in his hundredth Test.
"To play the way we have is a really impressive start but it's just a start. It's really important we go into tomorrow and back it up.
"It's a good start but we've got to make sure we get a really big first-innings lead."
Joe Root century gives England upper hand over India
Earlier, Root won an important toss, avoiding the potentially tricky task of batting in the fourth innings on a crumbling wicket.
England got off to a steady start with a 63-run stand between Sibley and Rory Burns but faltered ahead of the lunch break.
Burns made 33 before attempting a reckless reverse-sweep against Ravichandran Ashwin and offering a simple catch to Rishabh Pant.
Bumrah then trapped Dan Lawrence lbw for a duck but Root and Sibley denied India a wicket in the steady second session.
Root survived an early run-out chance and the lack of carry in the wicket meant a couple of edges fell short of the fielders behind the stumps.
His battle against Ashwin is one of the sub-plots of the four-Test series and the England captain took a single off the spinner to bring up his 20th hundred.
Root jumped in celebration while India counterpart Virat Kohli clapped.
With AAP
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