Mumbai: Star batsman Virat Kohli smashed a massive double century before England slumped to 182-6 at stumps on day four as India closed in on victory in the fourth Test Sunday.
Captain Kohli struck 235 runs for his third double ton of the year and Jayant Yadav scored a maiden Test century to fire India to a huge first innings score of 631.
England require something extraordinary to happen to avoid a Test and series defeat after a host of their top-order batsmen then wilted in the Mumbai heat, leaving the visitors trailing by 49 runs going into the final day.
“Our spinners bowled in good areas consistently” said Yadav, who lavished praise on India’s talismanic Kohli for helping guide the number nine batsman to his 104-run knock.
“Whenever you’re batting with Virat, things feel easier,” he said.
Kohli blasted a double century that included 25 fours and one six during his 340-ball stay.
It marked his third double century of 2016 in what has been a sensational and record-breaking year for the Indian skipper. Kohli joined the elite group of Michael Clarke (4), Sir Donald Bradman (3), Brendon McCullum (3) and Ricky Ponting (3) after crossing the 200-run mark in Tests on a minimum of three occasions in a calendar year.
Before 2016, Kohli had no double hundreds in the longest format of the game. But this year, with every massive innings, he has silenced each and every critic who tried to question his temperament in Test cricket.
“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.
The 28-year-old Kohli put on a massive 241-run partnership with Yadav as England failed to take any wickets during the morning session.
Kohli removed his helmet and raised his bat to the adoring crowd as he brought up his double ton with a single off his 302nd ball of the match.
The right-hander has been the standout batsman of the year, scoring a double century against the West Indies in July before repeating the feat against New Zealand in October.
He was eventually caught out by Anderson from Chris Woakes.
England, who scored 400 in their first innings, must win to keep the series alive going into the fifth Test in Chennai, a feat that now looks all but impossible.
“We’re going to come here tomorrow and try to fight our way back into the game if we can,” said Anderson.
“We’re (about) 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,” he added.
England’s most prolific wicket-taker felt the India captain, who has scored three double hundreds in 2016, was not tested enough in home conditions.
“I just think any technical deficiencies he’s got aren’t in play out here. The wickets just take that out of the equation,” said Anderson, who has 467 Test wickets.
