Joe Root's double ton guides England to 555-8 at stumps on Day 2
Chennai, Feb 6: Skipper Joe Root scored a superb double century in his 100th Test as England continued to frustrate India, amassing 555 for eight by stumps on the second day of the first Test here on Saturday.
The 30-year-old Root became the first player to notch up a double ton in his 100th Test on the way to his 218 off 377 balls, while Ben Stokes hit a counter-attacking 82 off 118 balls, studded with 10 fours and three sixes.
Root's fifth Test double ton was laced with 19 hits to the fence and two maximums, one of which helped him to reach the milestone.
At the draw of stumps, Dominic Bess (28) and Jack Leach (6) were at the crease at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Resuming the day at 263 for three, England amassed 191 runs in the first two sessions before India fought back with four wickets in the last session.
Root shared a 124-run partnership with Stokes for the fourth wicket, before forging another 86 with Ollie Pope (34) to put England in a commanding position.
Brief Scores:
England 1st innings: 555 for 8 in 180 overs (Joe Root 218, Ben Stokes 82, Dominic Sibley 87; Jasprit Bumrah 2/81, Ishant Sharma 2/52).
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BJP turning EC into tool for vote chori: Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that the BJP is turning the Election Commission into a "tool" for "vote chori".
Sharing a clip of his speech during a discussion on election reforms in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Gandhi said on X, "India's public is asking these 3 very important and direct questions: 1. Why was the CJI removed from the EC selection panel? 2. Why was almost complete legal immunity given to the EC before the 2024 elections? 3. Why the hurry to destroy CCTV footage within 45 days?"
"The answer is one - BJP is turning the Election Commission into a tool for vote theft," the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said.
In a no-holds-barred attack, Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the BJP and the Election Commission were "colluding to destroy" India's democracy and "rob people of their voice".
Participating in the discussion on election reforms, Gandhi claimed the BJP is "directing and using" the Election Commission to damage India's democracy.
Making suggestions, Gandhi called for providing machine readable voter list to all parties one month before elections, taking back the law that allows destruction of CCTV footage after 45 days, giving access to EVMs, and changing the law that allows election commissioners "to get away with whatever they want to do".
