Second LV= Insurance Test at Lord's (day one) India 276-3: Rahul 175*, Rohit 83 and Kohli 42 EnglandEngland was demoralized on the first day of the second Test. India's KL Rahul century led India to a massive total, after being asked to bat first.Rahul played with elegance in 127 not out and grew in stature after his supporting role in a stand of 126 with Rohit, who made an outstanding 83 at Lord's.India's captain Virat Kohli added 42 runs in a third-wicket partnership with Rahul. India now stands at 276-3 and is in prime position to win the match.James Anderson was declared fit to play and produced two great runs to take out Rohit and Cheteshwar pujara. Ollie Robinson gave a late boost to the team by taking Kohli's wicket.The home team was however collectively very poor with the ball. As the evening sun came out, bats looked more comfortable on a pitch.England won the first Test at Trent Bridge with the help of the rain. London's weather is expected to be dry this weekend so hosts will need their batsmen, including Haseeb Hameed (recalled for Zak Crowley) - to dig them out.Is England right to bowl first?Joe Root, England's captain, was not difficult to agree with when he chose to bowl first on a cold, grey, and damp morning. Kohli stated that he would have done it.England was not able to get the assistance that they expected. However, they did find the right spot, often alternating between too narrow and too straight.Rohit and Rahul deserve credit for navigating through difficult times with sound judgment, playing only when necessary, and giving credit to Rohit.Anderson won his double strike during tea after Stuart Broad was out with a calf problem.However, India had already established a solid foundation, and England would have been even more worried if Robinson had not struck.India will still be keen to put pressure on England, batting most of Friday.Relentless RahulRahul is the only player in this series, having suffered injuries to Shubman Gill & Mayank Agarwal. However, he started with scores of 84 at Trent Bridge and 26 at Trent Bridge, and then followed it up with his first Test hundred in nearly three years.Rohit started as his support, and he took four in one Sam Curran. He won a thrilling duel against Mark Wood.Rahul didn't score his first boundary, a straight six off Moeen Aili, until the 108th ball that he faced. Rohit was about to fall for his highest Test score outside India.Pujara's struggle continued, his highest score in the past 10 Test innings was 21. But Rahul slowly began to unleash his trademark drives through his off side.Kohli had never before scored 25 in four Test innings at Lord's. He had to pass an examination by Curran, and was almost allowed to play against Moeen.Robinson eventually attracted Root to the game, and Root grabbed the edge with his first slip.England's day of chasteningEngland's recent batting woes meant that they needed a more flat display with the ball.Broad has missed a home test for the third time since 2010. England would have been toothless for long time without him.Robinson's accuracy was not there. Curran started by bowling both ends of the wicket. Wood, Broad's replacement, reached 96mph, but it was costly, and Moeen, the recalled Moeen, struggled to make an impression.Anderson was the one who got the one to go down the Lord's slope and bowl Rohit.It marked the beginning of England's improvement. Curran played a test match from the wicket, and Robinson's probing using the second ball was rewarded with the wicket of Kohli.Root had still time to review Ajinkya Rahane's new man, possibly as a result England's frustration day.Rahul gives a masterclass - What they saidOllie Robinson, England's seamer, on BBC Sport: "Everybody noticed how green the pitch was this AM and everyone thought 'win' the toss and ball'. We worked hard."Virat is probably the biggest wicket I have ever taken, so I was pleased with that. We'd still be playing if we could get them five to six down before they go.Former England captain Michael Vaughan talks to BBC Test Match Special about "It was perfection by KL Rahul. It was a masterclass on how to open the England batting. It was a pleasure to see - craftsmen at work.It is a big day for England tomorrow. They have to take the wickets and then it's about the batting which has been the downfall over the past year.Jonathan Agnew, BBC cricket correspondent: "I don’t think anyone can seriously critique Joe Root’s decision to bowl.""But there didn’t seem to be any great plan for England’s bowling today. India has created a great platform."Mark Ramprakash, an ex-england batsman: "It has been a chastening morning for England. It will leave some people with weary minds and bodies. The next two batsmen, however, are left-handed players who play an attacking style. And then there are the four seamers.England has light at the end the tunnel, but they'll have to bat well.
