Kohli and Pujara plunder centuries as India take honours on opening day of second test

Skipper Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara hit centuries to help India take opening day honours as they reached 317 for four at stumps against England in the second cricket test in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

Kohli put on a marathon 226-run stand for the third wicket with Pujara (119) after the hosts lost their openers early to the England seamers.

Fit-again paceman James Anderson enjoyed his return with three wickets only to see the rest of the English attack face a tough time after the hosts opted to bat first.

Kohli was unbeaten on 151 at stumps after getting a life on 56 when Adil Rashid dropped him at long leg off Ben Stokes.

The star batsman mixed the right dose of caution and aggression to thwart the English bowling attack at India’s newest test venue.

“I think he [Kohli] likes to play his shots and the kind of runs he has scored in all the formats of the game, I always enjoy batting with him because he likes to dominate,” Pujara said of his skipper.

Bringing up his 10th test ton with a six off leg-spinner Rashid, the in-form Pujara tackled the English bowlers with aplomb.