England slump in fourth Test after Kohli double century

India skipper Virat Kohli smashed a double century on the fourth day of the fourth Test against England to lead his side to the verge of victory.

Virat Kohli scored 235 as India finished their first innings in teh fourth Test against England on 631. Reuters/Danish Siddiqui

Kohli made 235 – his third double century of the year – as India finished their first innings on 631 all out.

It gave them a lead of 231 over England’s first innings total of 400. The tourists responded to the pressure in Mumbai with a collapse. They ended the day on 182-6, still needing 49 runs to make India bat again.

England lost three quick wickets in 13 overs at the Wankhede Stadium as their second innings got off to a nightmare start.

Keaton Jennings, who scored a century on his Test debut in the first innings, went for a golden duck – out first ball. His wicket was claimed by the medium pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja then took captain Alastair Cook for 18 and Moeen Ali, who lasted only three balls and failed to get off the mark.

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow did their best to restore some respectability by putting on a fourth-wicket partnership of 92 before Root was out for 77 runs.

"Our spinners bowled in good areas consistently," said Umesh Yadav, who made 104.
"Whenever you're batting with Virat, things feel easier," he said.

Kohli’s double century included 25 fours and one six during his 340-ball stay. “He's very much suited to playing in these conditions. If you're not bang on the money and take your chances then he'll punish you," England bowler James Anderson said of Kohli.

England must win to keep the series alive going into the fifth Test in Chennai. "We're going to try to fight our way back into the game if we can," said Anderson. "We're 50 runs behind. If we can bat with positive intent, there's no reason we can't get 100 ahead of them and try to put pressure on them with the ball."