England in India, 2008/09

2nd Test India 179 For 1 At stumps On Day 1 vs England

Finally Rahul Dravid back in form, added 173-runs with Gautam Gambhir for second wickets.

Mohali: Play was stopped early due to bad light after Gambhir and Dravid took India to a commanding position. Play will start 30 minutes early on day two, light permitting of course.

Gambhir hit 12 fours and a six in his knock of 106 continuing with his stupendous form. This is Gambhir's third century in the last four Tests, second at Mohali and first against England.

With seven fours, Dravid struck form before tea to hit his 54th Test fifty, his first after nine innings. His last fifty came in the first innings of the first Test against Australia at Bangalore.

Dravid brought up the Indian 100 with a superb drive between Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss at short extra cover, even a diving Stuart Broad at mid-off was unable to stop the ball as it raced to the boundary.

Dravid has now been involved in 73 century partnerships, which is the most by any batsman and the Dravid-Gambhir stand is the highest for the second wicket at Mohali.

Bad light and overcast conditions delayed the start of the Test. After winning the toss, Dhoni said, "There's a touch of grass and it's overcast, but if you look at the pitch it should spin later on."

Dhoni also confirmed Rahul Dravid will remain at number three despite. "We have to start from scratch in every game but confidence is high."

Day 1 Highlights

• Rahul Dravid broke the jinx finally with a gutsy fifty but the day belonged to ton man Gautam Gambhir. India had nine wickets intact before bad light stopped play as only 72 over possible.
• 173-runs added by Gauti and Dravid. This is the second highest partnership for the 2nd wicket for India against England. Mumbai duo of Farukh Engineer and Ajit Wadekar has posted 192 runs in Mumbai way back in 1973.
• 173-runs partnership is the best second wicket partnership at PCA Mohali, previous best 154-runs by Australia against India.
• Forth Test hundred scored by Gautam Gambhir - his first against England. In his last four Test, Gauti has registered three tons.
• 10-times Virender Sehwag has been dismissed for a duck in 66 Test and 113 innings. Four of these dismissals have been record against England.
• 47-days after which Dravid has hit a boundary in Test cricket. He hit a James Anderson delivery to break the jinx. His last four was scored off Mithchell Johnson during the second innings of the Delhi Test on November 02 against Australia.
• Rahul Dravid first batsman to amass 8,000 Test runs at No.3 Position. Other are - Ponting 7992m Sangakkara 5737, Don Bradman 5078.

Reports by session
1st Session: Runs 51, Wkt 1, Ovr 21
2nd Session: Runs 83, Wkt 0, Ovr 32
3rd Session: Runs 45, Wkt 0, Ovr 19

Brief Score: India 179 for 1 (G Gambhir 106*, R Dravid 65*, S Broad 1/45) vs England