The much anticipated Five match Test series between India and England started yesterday with an exciting and eventful day of test cricket. Joe Root, the English skipper opted to bat first after calling right at the coin toss and the hosts were off to a reasonable start.
The Edgbaston pitch had a brown look to it and didn”t offer much to the seamers, surprisingly or unsurprisingly given the dry English summer, the surface started gripping a little for the off-spinner Ashwin right from the first hour of the morning. Ravi Ashwin too made a good use of that assistance and bowled an absolute peach of a delivery to get rid of Cook as the first batsmen to depart for England in the first hour.
England though despite losing a couple of quick wickets after the lunch was motoring along to a substantial score courtesy some great batsmanship by their two best batters. Root and Bairstow were playing with ease and completed their half-century unharmed and with the utmost of ease.
With the score going past 200 and only three scalps for the Indian team, things were looking gloomy and test match seemingly slipping away, but just when you thought that England was on to posting a mammoth 1st innings score on an easy-paced pitch, Indian Captain produced a moment of magic that later triggered an English collapse to tilt the day 1 in India”s favor.
Out of nowhere, Kohli produced a wicket by running out Joe root who looked well set for a huge ton, Kohli made a sliding a stop, picked up the ball in one motion and while being in the air threw it to shatter the stumps all in one motion while about 60 meters away from the pitch.
It was a brilliant exhibition of athleticism and ability which turned the whole game on its head and brought India back in the game. Kohli being his usual self, celebrated the dismissal by blowing kisses and doing a “mic drop” antic in reply to Root”s Bat drop celebration in the third ODI.
This whole thing stormed the internet, while some English fans were unimpressed with celebrations, many enjoyed it as well, especially the Indian contingent.
Twitter went mad and as usual, there was a lot of reactions, here are some reactions, celebration and the incredible fielding effort itself:
Was this @Schroders selection the turning point on Day 1?
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/E3ph4x4tRS#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/0PUBMnewVA
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/sukhiaatma69/status/1024692827492704256
Who did the mic drop better? @root66 in the 3rd ODI or @imVkohli today? 😉#KyaHogaIssBaar #ENGvIND LIVE on SONY SIX and SONY TEN 3. #SPNSports pic.twitter.com/QpiHNp9TSu
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/tomabson_98/status/1024682880784637952
Joe Root started it. Virat Kohli Ended it. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/3Wxvv5nu5I
— Funnily Serious (@notionalview) August 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/matthewgscott/status/1024688152915652608
Poms choking and moaning about Kohli's celebration.
This is beautiful, utter bliss.#ENGvIND— Akki (@CrickPotato) August 1, 2018
Kohli swore, shushed the crowd AND did a mic-drop to mock Joe Root's bat-drop all in one fluid motion. Master entertainer.#ENGvIND
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) August 1, 2018
Honestly, this is glorious. https://t.co/Sk1tyxEalv
— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) August 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/Goel_Eakansh/status/1024690544033886213
https://twitter.com/ReeceB2406/status/1024687949248716800
https://twitter.com/AdorablyDishyy/status/1024708745694273537
English fans after Joe Root’s mic drop celebration:-
Oh what a guy, class act, brilliant, etcEnglish fans after Virat Kohli’s mic drop celebration:-
Oh what a cunt, shit guy, etc#Hypocrites #VictimCard #ENGvsIND— Sagar (@Sagarcasm_MUFC) August 1, 2018
HAHAHAHA King Kohli owning Root over his Grant Elliot rip off
— The Big Show (@ravi_layer) August 1, 2018
A country that is represented by Anderson and Broad can't stand Kohli? Okay then.
— Alagappan Vijayakumar (@IndianMourinho) August 1, 2018
A very good beginning to the test series for India. Ashwin bowled beautifully and so did Shami and that brilliant run out of Root by Kohli was the turning point of the day. From 216-3, Eng 285-9. May we carry the momentum with the bat tomorrow and dominate England #ENGvIND
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 1, 2018
Virat Kohli's version of the 'Mic drop' seemed more like an Atomic bomb being dropped! Explosive as always!#ENGvIND
— North Stand Gang – Wankhede (@NorthStandGang) August 1, 2018
So Virat Kohli bears a grudge then…?
👉 https://t.co/BRCUDolbc6 #bbccricket #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/Ro6AfM2lP1
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) August 1, 2018