A file image of former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar.
Virat Kohli delivered a batting exhibition in a brilliant innings of 149 to keep India in sight of England on a gripping second day of the first Test at Edgbaston on Thursday. The India captain made England pay dearly for dropped catches when on 21 and 51, blazing to his 22nd Test century - and first in England - to end a sorry run of scores on English soil. In fact, his total beat the combined scores in his 10 previous innings in England from India's five-Test tour in 2014. Many present and former cricket greats lauded Kohli for his outstanding innings and among them was former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar, who said Kohli is the benchmark for world's batsmen to follow.
After he was the last man out with about 30 minutes left of the day, Kohli was given a standing ovation around Edgbaston, with England fans also showing their appreciation of one of cricket's box-office talents.
Kohli opened his shoulders late in his knock and finished with a total of 22 fours and a six off his penultimate ball as he successfully hogged the strike to demonstrate his excellent game management.
Thanks to Kohli, India were eventually dismissed for 274 - for a first-innings deficit of 13 runs - having been 59/3, 100/5 and 169/7 at various stages.
England, who started the day by adding just two runs to their overnight 285/9, ended it by closing on 9/1 in their second innings after offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin bowled Alastair Cook for 0, in a virtual repeat of the opener's first-innings dismissal.
The hosts led by 22 runs with nine second-innings wickets remaining heading into the third day.
