India vs Australia 4th Test, Day 4: Virat Kohli closes in on century as hosts reach 362/4 at lunch

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Ahmedabad, March 12: Virat Kohli closed in on century as India reach 362/4 at lunch on day four of the fourth Test against Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (March 12).

Kohli (88 not out) and KS Bharat (25 not out) showed remarkable skill and determination to frustrate the Australian bowling attack in the opening session, which saw Ravindra Jadeja depart for 28. The hosts currently trail by only 118 runs.

Although he has added only 29 runs in the session, Kohli has looked unblemished on a flat track in Ahmedabad as Australia bowlers toil.

Overnight batting pair of Jadeja and Kohli were decisive in their approach and made the Australian bowlers toil hard making merry of the excellent batting conditions on offer.

Australia skipper Steve Smith, who opened the day with Cameron Green, switched to spin soon with Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy bowling in tandem from both ends.

The duo of Jadeja and Kohli took India's total beyond the 300-run mark in the 102nd over of the game. However, the 64-run partnership stand was broken by Murphy who dismissed Jadeja.

Bharat then came out to bat instead of Shreyas Iyer, who has been sent for scans after complaining of pain in his lower back. Bharat and Kohli rotated the strike brilliantly, not allowing the Australian bowlers to settle down while whacking the loose balls on offer.

Kohli and Bharat both were aggressors of the batting pair, smashing boundaries regularly. The duo stitched a solid 50-run partnership for Team India, who has seen all their stands from the first wicket share at least a 50-run partnership so far.

Kohli, who last scored a Test hundred in 2019, will be hopeful of ending the drought in the longest format and get to his 28th century in Tests. With nothing much to offer for the bowlers, it is very likely that Kohli could reach the landmark.