Ahmedabad: Star India batsman Virat Kohli's 28th Test put India in command as the hosts gained a 91-run first innings lead against Australia on Day 4 of the fourth Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Narendra Modi Stadium here on Sunday.
Kohli ended his Test century drought by slamming 186 runs. He had last scored a Test century on 22 November 2019 in a day-night Test against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens.
The former India captain sent the Australian bowlers on a leather hunt for almost two days in his 241-ball knock. Around him, the Indian innings revolved, and his innings ended trying to up the ante as he ran out of partners nearing a double ton. He was out caught at deep midwicket by Marnus Labuschagne off Todd Murphy who claimed three wickets for 113 runs in 45.5 overs.
Prior to this, Kohli weaved six fifty-run partnerships for India in the quest to give a fitting reply to Australia's first innings total of 480 runs.
The first session saw Indian batsmen grind through, getting only 73 runs off 32 overs, losing the wicket of overnight batsman Ravindra Jadeja after he put on 64 runs for fourth wicket.
After being kept quiet for a long time by off-spinner Nathan Murphy, Jadeja lost his patience and tried to smash him over the park thrice in an over. He succeeded to get the first ball over the fence, but miss-hit the third straight into the hands of Usman Khawaja at mid-on for 28.
Kohli carried on with his grinding work even as wicketkeeper-batsman Srikar Bharat, who came in instead of Shreyas Iyer, gave him good company. Iyer was taken for scans following complaints of pain in the lower back.
Both Bharat and Kohli sewed a sedate 84 runs stand for fifth wicket, but not before the wicketkeeper-batsman had slogswept Nathan Lyon for a six. In contrast to this, the post-tea session saw Bharat pulling Cameron Green for back-to-back sixes before cutting him for a boundary, fleecing 21 runs in the over.
Kohli reached his coveted century by flicking Lyon through midwicket, but soon Bharat fell short of his maiden Test fifty by six runs as he was prized out by the same bowler who had him caught at short leg.
But Australia's joy was short-lived, for Kohli was joined by Axar Patel, who probably is the best batsman of the series. He did not waste time and got runs quickly to see India take the lead.
The local star cracked 4 sixes and 5 boundaries, which galvanised a patient Kohli to cut loose.
The duo stitched 162 in just 216 balls to drive India to a position of comfort. Axar's dismissal however triggered a quick collapse. He chopped Mitchell Starc on to his stumps.
Ravichandran Ashwin was caught by Matthew Kuhnemann on a slog sweep and Umesh Yadav was run out, going for the second run. Kohli also fell for a big hit after he was left with only one partner with Iyer still unavailable.
Australia survived a tricky six overs period. Kuhnemann, who came in after first innings centurion Usman Khawaja had been off the field for jarring his knee, was dropped by Bharat off Ashwin. But the makeshift opener and Travis Head managed to see it through to the final day.
Ninety-one lead is a decent lead, but isn't good enough to put pressure on Australia because the pitch has not cracked up for the spinners to make inroads. In that case, Indian bowlers have to skillfully bowl out Australia to register their third victory of the series.
Brief Scores: Australia 480 (Usman Khawaja 180, Cameron Green 114; R Ashwin 6-91) and 3/0 trail India 571 (Virat Kohli 186, Shubman Gill 128, Axar Patel 79; Todd Murphy 3-113) by 88 runs. (UNI)