Rishabh Pant: “Thought of playing my shots after assessing the pitch. Sometimes the bowlers bowl good spells & you have to respect them. I like to play according to situations. I think the USP of my cricket is that I see the ball & react to it.”

Ind 294/7 after 94 overs (Washington Sundar 60, Axar Patel 11)
A maiden over to end the day. England did very well for two sessions but India stole the show (and possibly the match) in the final session through the Pant-Washington partnership. India lead by 89 runs.

Ind 294/7 after 93 overs (Washington Sundar 60, Axar Patel 11)
Sundar gets the review right. Bess smiled for a change but the on-field umpire got it wrong. Big inside edge. India lead by 89 runs.

Ind 290/7 after 91 overs (Washington Sundar 57, Axar Patel 10)
It took Bess 13 overs to get in his first maiden over.

Ind 281/7 after 89 overs (Washington Sundar 56, Axar Patel 6)
India’s lead is up to 76 runs and both batsmen are looking comfortable.

Ind 276/7 after 87 overs (Washington Sundar 51, Axar Patel 6)
FIFTY! Washington has been so good for India down the order. But this is a special knock. India were in trouble but he settled in without fuss and has pushed his team in a position of great strength.

Ind 268/7 after 86 overs (Washington Sundar 44, Axar Patel 5)
Washington and Axar can both bat very well and England cannot afford to relax. India lead by 63 runs. Four runs from the Root over.

Ind 259/7 after 84.1 overs (Washington Sundar 40)
WICKET! And right after the century comes the wicket. Pant was looking to take on Anderson but he hit this one straight to the fielder. Didn’t get the middle of the bat. Visibly angry after being dismissed. India lead by 54 runs. Pant c Root b Anderson 101(118)

Ind 259/6 after 84 overs (Rishabh Pant 101, Washington Sundar 40)
CENTURY! India were in trouble at 80/4 when he walked in but he’s made it another brilliant 100. He gets there with a six too. No stopping this young man.

Ind 252/6 after 83 overs (Rishabh Pant 94, Washington Sundar 40)
You don’t reverse sweep Anderson over the slips for four!!! You don’t... not unless you are Rishabh Pant. The rule book simply doesn’t exist for him.

Ind 245/6 after 82 overs (Rishabh Pant 89, Washington Sundar 38)
The runs continue to flow. Stokes is running on fumes and England are no doubt coming to regret going into the match a bowler short. Washington getting into the act as well.

Ind 232/6 after 81 overs (Rishabh Pant 84, Washington Sundar 30)
New ball taken and new ball dispatched to the boundary line. Anderson has taken over 600 Test wickets and is one of the best new ball bowlers in the world but don’t tell Pant that. He comes down the wicket and smashes the first ball for four down the ground and then smashes the second four too. Superb batting.

Ind 223/6 after 80 overs (Rishabh Pant 75, Washington Sundar 30)
A boundary from Washington to finish the over. The new ball is now due. India lead by 18 runs.

Ind 217/6 after 79 overs (Rishabh Pant 74, Washington Sundar 25)
England reviewed an LBW shout against Pant off the last ball but it was going down the leg side. Another couple of fours for Pant before that.

Ind 209/6 after 78 overs (Rishabh Pant 66, Washington Sundar 25)
It is 38 degrees celsius and England are wilting. India are ahead by 4 runs now.

Ind 197/6 after 77 overs (Rishabh Pant 55, Washington Sundar 25)
Maiden over by Root, who has been more consistent than Bess.

Ind 197/6 after 76 overs (Rishabh Pant 55, Washington Sundar 25)
A bit of a surprise to see Stokes coming back into the attack with the new ball just a few overs away. Also perhaps reflects how this stand has pushed England into a corner. India trail by 8 runs.

Pant getting some treatment for a tweaked hamstring perhaps. Seemed to tweak it while trying to go for a second run a while back. Doesn’t look to be too bad.

Ind 196/6 after 75 overs (Rishabh Pant 55, Washington Sundar 24)
The 50-run stand between Pant and Washington comes up in just 101 balls. They have made batting look easy. Perhaps a tiring England attack has helped.

Ind 195/6 after 74 overs (Rishabh Pant 55, Washington Sundar 23)
The second new ball will be due in another six over and England will not bring the pacers on before it is taken. So a good chance for Pant and Washington to score some runs.

Ind 188/6 after 73 overs (Rishabh Pant 50, Washington Sundar 21)
England’s success earlier in the day was built on how they controlled the flow of runs. But now, Pant and Washington aren’t allowing that to happen now.

Ind 187/6 after 72 overs (Rishabh Pant 50, Washington Sundar 20)
Fifty! Pant gets to another fabulous fifty. It has taken him just 82 balls. India badly needed him to come good and he has.

Ind 185/6 after 71 overs (Rishabh Pant 49, Washington Sundar 19)
A brilliant partnership for India. England have been let down by Bess and Pant and Washington have taken advantage of that.

Ind 180/6 after 70 overs (Rishabh Pant 49, Washington Sundar 15)
Pant and Washington have put on 35 runs already and they are starting to look settled in the middle.

Ind 175/6 after 68 overs (Rishabh Pant 47, Washington Sundar 12)
Better from Leach, at least better than Bess. He is feeling a lot better about his bowling than Bess.

Leach back into the attack. He replaces Bess.

Ind 172/6 after 67 overs (Rishabh Pant 45, Washington Sundar 11)
India keep rolling on, they trail by just 33 runs. Pant and Washington are doing it right at the moment.

Ind 165/6 after 64 overs (Rishabh Pant 43, Washington Sundar 7)
One run from the Root over. Odd to see that England have started the session with Bess and Root.

Ind 165/6 after 63 overs (Rishabh Pant 42, Washington Sundar 7)
Poor from Bess again. He just hasn’t managed to bowl with the control that his team would have liked. 10 runs off the over.

Ind 155/6 after 62 overs (Rishabh Pant 37, Washington Sundar 2)
Root begins new session for England. India trail by 50 runs now.

Players are back on the field for the final session.

Ind 152/6 after 62 overs (Rishabh Pant 36, Washington Sundar 1)
And that is tea. England have done well. They got the wicket of Rohit Sharma in the session and the match hangs in the balance.

In the session: 24.1 overs, 73 runs, 2 wickets. Over-rate of just 11.4

Ind 152/6 after 61.1 overs (Rishabh Pant 35, Washington Sundar 1)
Pant survives a review. He got caught on the back leg by Bess and it came out to umpire’s call on height. Very, very close.

Ind 152/6 after 61 overs (Rishabh Pant 35, Washington Sundar 1)
Very much a battle for the first innings lead at this point. Given that India will have to bat last on this wicket, every run in crucial.

Ind 146/6 after 58.1 overs (Rishabh Pant 30)
WICKET! Ashwin gets the leading edge and Leach gets another wicket. It was pitched in line with the leg-stump and Ashwin wanted to help it along to the leg-side for a single but it seemed to stop on him a little and he got the leading edge instead. Ashwin c Ollie Pope b Jack Leach 13(32)

Ind 146/5 after 58 overs (Rishabh Pant 30, R Ashwin 13)
England trying to keep things as tight as they can. If they can do that, Pant might try something silly. Run-scoring isn’t easy on this wicket. There is something for the bowlers... keeps them interested and keeps the batsmen on high alert.

Ind 138/5 after 55 overs (Rishabh Pant 24, R Ashwin 11)
Wonderful contest at the moment. Leach against Pant is a contest of skill and attitude. So far, an even battle.

Ind 131/5 after 53.2 overs (Rishabh Pant 23, R Ashwin 7)
Successful review for Ashwin. Menon gave him out but the ball had come off the shoulder.

Ind 130/5 after 53 overs (Rishabh Pant 22, R Ashwin 7)
Leach is back into the attack and he starts off with a maiden over.

Ind 130/5 after 52 overs (Rishabh Pant 22, R Ashwin 7)
One full toss from Stokes and Ashwin helped himself to four runs.

Ind 121/5 after 51 overs (Rishabh Pant 21, R Ashwin 2)
The India top-order is back in the hut. But the tail is a long one. Will it wag?

Ind 121/5 after 50 overs (Rishabh Pant 20)
WICKET! Stokes strikes to send back Rohit Sharma. It came in sharply and hit Rohit on the back leg. He took a hopeful review. The impact was the umpire’s call. This will hurt India big time. Rohit lbw b Stokes 49(144)

Double change. Stokes replaces Anderson.

Ind 121/4 after 49 overs (Rohit Sharma 49, Rishabh Pant 20)
Pant went down the wicket and hit Root for a six. He is not going to let the off-spinner settle down that easily. The game of cat and mouse has begun.

Joe Root into the attack now. He replaces Bess.

Ind 112/4 after 48 overs (Rohit Sharma 48, Rishabh Pant 12)
10 overs, 32 runs in the session so far. India playing well – not being rash but the runs are coming. In the morning session, England controlled things but this is India wresting back some of that control.

Ind 105/4 after 45 overs (Rohit Sharma 47, Rishabh Pant 6)
Another four for Rohit, who just seems to be opening up a bit more now. The loose balls from Bess have helped. The runs coming against Anderson.

Ind 101/4 after 45 overs (Rohit Sharma 43, Rishabh Pant 6)
Bess is struggling. He just tosses another one right up and Rohit helps himself to another four. Maybe a few maiden overs or a wicket will help him settle down but India won’t mind this at the moment.

Ind 96/4 after 44 overs (Rohit Sharma 38, Rishabh Pant 6)
Anderson keeping things tight from the other end. He bowls another maiden over. Pant being circumspect. Anderson now has 11 maidens in the 15 overs he has bowled so far.

Ind 96/4 after 43 overs (Rohit Sharma 38, Rishabh Pant 6)
Two off the Bess over.

Ind 94/4 after 42 overs (Rohit Sharma 37, Rishabh Pant 5)
An edged four for Pant off the third ball but Anderson continuing to get movement and beat the bat.

Ind 90/4 after 41 overs (Rohit Sharma 37, Rishabh Pant 1)
Bess still bowling the odd full toss or loose delivery every over. Rohit helped himself to four runs. Bess has already conceded 20 runs in his 5 overs. India are 115 runs behind.

Ind 85/4 after 40 overs (Rohit Sharma 33, Rishabh Pant 0)
Anderson starts off with a maiden over from the other end.

Ind 85/4 after 39 overs (Rohit Sharma 33, Rishabh Pant 0)
Bess has an important role to play against India’s left-handers – Pant, Washington and Axar. He needs to be accurate.

Players are back on the field for the post-lunch session.

That is lunch too. In the session: 25.5, 56 runs, 3 wickets. England controlled things very well through the session.

Ind 80/4 after 37.5 overs (Rohit Sharma 32)
WICKET! Anderson does the trick. The ball moved away just a little. Rahane hung his bat out to dry, got the edge and Stokes took a fine catch at second slip. The India vice-captain was looking good and playing with the right intent. Rahane c Stokes b Anderson 27(45)

Ind 80/3 after 37 overs (Rohit Sharma 32, Ajinkya Rahane 27)
Rahane-Rohit stand is worth 39 off 62 balls. The run-rate just as important as the runs scored given the control England have had all morning. Bess helping matters with a full toss and that Rahane hit for four.

Ind 74/3 after 36 overs (Rohit Sharma 31, Ajinkya Rahane 22)
The first ball from Anderson moved away late and beat Rahane. Then, he got a few more to come back into the batsmen too. Last ball of the over, Rahane couldn’t quite control a lofted stroke and it luckily fell in no-man’s land.

Anderson coming back into the attack. Leach gets a break.

Ind 70/3 after 35 overs (Rohit Sharma 31, Ajinkya Rahane 18)
Bess into the attack and Rohit sweeps him away for four. But there is turn and bounce for the offie.

Bess into the attack. Stokes gets a break.

Ind 66/3 after 34 overs (Rohit Sharma 27, Ajinkya Rahane 18)
Steady from Leach. But Rahane is being positive in the middle and that is just what India need. Something to get the scoreboard ticking.

Ind 62/3 after 33 overs (Rohit Sharma 27, Ajinkya Rahane 14)
What a spell by Stokes! He hasn’t been 100% but he has got through a 10-over spell today: 16 runs, 1 wicket. A full delivery in the over sees Rahane drive through the covers for four. Stokes looks spent. Will Root turn to Anderson or spin from Bess?

Ind 55/3 after 32 overs (Rohit Sharma 27, Ajinkya Rahane 7)
A bit too short from Leach and Rahane rocked onto the back foot and hammered it for four on the leg-side.

Ind 49/3 after 31 overs (Rohit Sharma 26, Ajinkya Rahane 2)
Off the third ball of the over, a bouncer from Stokes hit Rohit on the helmet. A short pause in play as the concussion protocol was followed. The batsman seems fine. Stokes is producing the odd effort ball that is surprising batsmen. This has been a wonderful spell from him: Nine overs for nine runs and the big wicket of Virat Kohli.

Ind 47/3 after 30 overs (Rohit Sharma 26, Ajinkya Rahane 1)
Rohit danced down the track and picked his spot to hit Leach for a four off the second ball. But then a little later in the over, the ball just took off and Foakes collected it at head-level.

Ind 43/3 after 29 overs (Rohit Sharma 22, Ajinkya Rahane 1)
Another maiden over. In the session so far: 17 overs, 19 runs and 2 wickets. England’s approach has worked.

Ind 43/3 after 28 overs (Rohit Sharma 22, Ajinkya Rahane 1)
India are in a fair bit of trouble now. Another wicket could really set the cat among the pigeons. Also sets the stage for Ajinkya Rahane to send a message to his critics.

Ind 41/3 after 26.4 overs (Rohit Sharma 21)
WICKET! Stokes bends his back, gets extra bounce and induces the edge from a surprised Kohli. Here we go. Kohli c Foakes b Stokes 0(8)

Ind 40/2 after 26 overs (Rohit Sharma 20, Kohli 0)
Another maiden over. Kohli trying to get his eye in.

Ind 40/2 after 25 overs (Rohit Sharma 20, Kohli 0)
India made a sedate start to the day, England kept the batsmen quiet but at some point, the runs have to start flowing again.

Ind 40/2 after 24 overs (Rohit Sharma 20)
WICKET! That same old problem for Pujara. The bat gets stuck behind the pads and he gets trapped LBW by Leach. The review didn’t help. Pujara lbw b Jack Leach 17(66)

Ind 38/1 after 23 overs (Rohit Sharma 19, Cheteshwar Pujara 16)
Rohit Sharma now has 1000 runs as an opener in Test cricket. The switch once again has worked wonders for him.

Ind 36/1 after 22 overs (Rohit Sharma 18, Cheteshwar Pujara 16)
Leach gives away a couple of runs but also gets a delivery to go past Rohit’s defensive prod. And then on the last ball, it looked like Foakes dropped Pujara (on 16). Why did England wait so long to get spin into the attack?

Leach coming into the attack now. Runs will come but maybe a wicket too.

Ind 34/1 after 21 overs (Rohit Sharma 17, Cheteshwar Pujara 15)
Another maiden over. 9 overs, 10 runs, 0 wickets on Day 2 so far.

Ind 34/1 after 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 17, Cheteshwar Pujara 15)
Another maiden over. Not good from England. They needed to make the batsmen play more.

Ind 34/1 after 19 overs (Rohit Sharma 17, Cheteshwar Pujara 15)
7 maidens in Anderson’s 9 overs but he has been far too wide after the first over. The batsmen haven’t been troubled.

Ind 34/1 after 18 overs (Rohit Sharma 17, Cheteshwar Pujara 15)
A loose ball from Stokes was punished by Rohit. Four runs for the taking and the right-hander didn’t miss.

Ind 28/1 after 17 overs (Rohit Sharma 12, Cheteshwar Pujara 15)
Maiden over by Anderson.

Ind 28/1 after 16 overs (Rohit Sharma 12, Cheteshwar Pujara 15)
Pace is not having much of an impact on the batsmen. It shouldn’t be long before England turn to spin from at least one end.

Ind 27/1 after 15 overs (Rohit Sharma 11, Cheteshwar Pujara 15)
Slow and steady start to the day. India has to get through the period without trying too much and then Rohit will be able to cash in.

Ind 26/1 after 14 overs (Rohit Sharma 10, Cheteshwar Pujara 15)
A maiden over to start the day for Stokes from the other end.

Ind 26/1 after 13 overs (Rohit Sharma 10, Cheteshwar Pujara 15)
Anderson kicks things off for England and he is getting some movement. A couple of balls jagged back pretty sharply into Rohit. Vital phase for England. They want some early wickets to get the tone for their fightback.

Day 2: India will be looking to drive home the advantage after their bowler’s bowled England out for just 205 on Day 1. It seemed to be the best day of batting but England’s batsmen failed to make the most of their starts. There were no ‘Big Daddy’ hundreds and that will come back to haunt the tourists.

Just a little chat: England’s Ben Stokes said his verbal duel with India skipper Virat Kohli on Thursday highlighted that two professionals “care about the sport” in what he called the toughest batting conditions.

Stokes made 55 in England’s 205 all out on the opening day of the fourth and final Test after the tourists won the toss and elected to bat in Ahmedabad.

His 121-ball knock, laced with four boundaries and two sixes, raised hopes of a big England total as he engaged in some mid-pitch banter.

“It’s two professionals showing they care about the sport that they love,” Stokes, who played despite a stomach bug, told reporters.

“A lot gets said these days when two guys seem to come to words out in the middle. There was completely nothing untoward, just two blokes who care about what they do and two guys who definitely don’t back down.”

Stokes apparently reacted to a bouncer from fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who later said the batsman “abused” him.

Day 1 review: Indian spinners Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin took seven wickets between them as England’s batting failed again on the first day of the fourth and final Test on Thursday.

England managed only 205 and India, leading the series 2-1, reached 24 for one after fast bowler James Anderson trapped Shubman Gill lbw for nought on the third ball of the innings.

Rohit Sharma (8) and Cheteshwar Pujara (15) were batting.