Chennai Test: Anderson leaves India on the brink as England move in for the kill
Chennai: Veteran pacer James Anderson bowled England into a winning position, scalping three wickets including two in an over, as India slumped to 144 for 6 at lunch in pursuit of 420 on the final day of the first Test here on Tuesday.
India captain Virat Kohli (45 off 51 balls, 5 fours) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2), who copped a few blows on his body and one on the helmet, were at the crease at the interval, still needing 276 for a world record victory.
Kohli was the lone hope left for India after Shubman Gill (50) had batted beautifully but was sent back by Anderson just when he looked set for a big one.
Anderson was brilliant with his three-wicket burst in seven overs, including four maidens and costing a mere 8 runs. Jack Leach (2/56) and Dom Bess (1/50) also enjoyed some success.
The 38-year-old Anderson showed why he is considered a master of reverse swing, cleaning up Gill (50) and Ajinkya Rahane (0) in the same over with deliveries that came in sharply.
On both occasions, the off-stump was sent cart-wheeling as Gill and Rahane were left clueless.
He later dismissed the dangerous Rishabh Pant (11), having him caught by skipper Joe Root at short cover after the Indian attempted a clip to the on-side resulting in a leading edge.
Left-arm spinner Leach struck the first blow of the day, getting the reliable Cheteshwar Pujara (15) with a delivery that turned and bounced. It caught the bat and flew to slips where Ben Stokes took a good catch.
Gill, who looked to be positive in the face of the massive target, hit some beautiful shots off Bess, which included stepping down the track and clouting him for a big six mid-on.
He reached his third Test fifty but could not carry on longer as Anderson got him with a beauty.
England made a mammoth 578 in the first innings and restricted India to 337 before being bowled out for 178 to leave the hosts a victory target of 420.
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Karnataka Guv, CM Siddaramaiah, ISRO chief pay last respects to Kasturirangan
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were among the dignitaries who paid their final tributes to former ISRO Chairman K Kasturirangan on Sunday.
Kasturirangan, who led the space agency for nearly a decade (1994 to 2003), passed away in Bengaluru on Friday at the age of 84.
His mortal remains, wrapped in the national flag, were kept at the Raman Research Institute (RRI) for the public and well-wishers to pay their last respects, ahead of the last rites with full state honours.
Gehlot, who offered condolences to the family members of Kasturirangan, later recalled his interactions with him on numerous occasions, while speaking to reporters.
"He lives on through his works for the nation and the world," he added.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, after paying floral tributes, said Kasturirangan's death is an unbearable loss for the country, especially for the scientific community.
"His contribution to the field of space science is immense. He was the ISRO chairman for a long time, and his contributions to education are also remarkable. He cannot be forgotten. He won awards and accolades from across the world. He also played a key role as the Chairman of the high-level working group on the Western Ghats. His contribution to Karnataka is immense," he added.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, BJP State President B Y Vijayendra, and former ISRO chiefs A S Kiran Kumar, K Sivan, and S Somanath were among those who paid their last respects to Kasturirangan.
A number of people from the scientific and academic community, as well as the ISRO fraternity, also paid their tributes.
Recalling his 50-year association with Kasturirangan, Kiran Kumar described him as a great personality who brought a personal touch through his interactions with people and had a tremendous ability to articulate ideas.
His contributions, not just to ISRO but to the country, cannot be forgotten. His work spanned various fields—not only space technology but also as a Rajya Sabha member, the head of the Karnataka Knowledge Commission, and through his studies on the Western Ghats. His contributions to the country and society are enormous. We will all miss him, as leaders like him are rare, he said.
Sivan stated that Kasturirangan's death is a loss for the entire country. He made immense contributions to science, academics, and ISRO's current form.
"During his tenure as ISRO Chairman, the transformation from the experimental phase to the operational phase occurred. Under his leadership, PSLV and GSLV became operational, along with some advanced satellites. When I was Chairman, I frequently sought his advice, which was always helpful," he said.
Earlier in the day, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan remembered Kasturirangan as a transformative figure who profoundly shaped India's space ambitions, educational framework, and envisioned the future.
In his condolence message, he said, "Kasturirangan's life, marked by an unwavering pursuit of knowledge and its application for the nation's advancement, has left an enduring legacy."
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