NOTTINGHAM – Virat Kohli played another fine captain’s knock which inspiredIndia on their best batting day of the series in the third Test againstEngland at Trent Bridge .

Kohli looked poised to mark the first Test for 63 years in England tostart with a serene ton until Adil Rashid’s spin beat him, but India’schampion batsman did most to guide them to 307-6 by close on a fascinatingfirst day.

With England 2-0 ahead in the five-match series, Joe Root decided to launchanother assault on India’s brittle top order after winning the toss andChris Woakes obliged with three wickets in the morning session to reducethe tourists to 82-3.

Yet Kohli, who has shone amid his side’s batting ruins, once again dug deepand, ably assisted by Ajinkya Rahane in a superb 159-run fourth-wicketpartnership, led his side out of another perilous situation.

The pair batted throughout the afternoon session when the ball stoppedjagging around, compiling by far India’s best partnership of the seriesuntil Rahane was snapped up after tea for 81 by Stuart Broad, courtesy ofAlastair Cook’s dazzling left-handed slip catch.

Kohli, having compiled his 18th Test fifty, carried on confidently andlooked set for his 23rd Test hundred, and second of the series, untiltempted to drive at a rare Rashid turner which Ben Stokes gobbled up atslip.