Jack Leach has the ‘character’ to bounce back from Rishabh Pant mauling

Jack Leach came back from his first-innings mauling to launch England’s quest for victory in Chennai on day four.

Leach pegged back Rohit Sharma’s off-stump during the final hour of the fourth evening as India closed on 39 for one, after England’s dismissal for 178 second time around set the hosts 420 to win.

The Somerset slow left-armer had been savaged by Rishabh Pant earlier in the match, conceding five sixes to the left-hander’s flashing blade and nursing figures of 8-0-77-0 at one point.

Jack Leach is leading England’s quest for a first Test victory over India in Chennai

Leach claimed three wickets on day four in both of India’s innings as England push for victory

But the 29-year-old turned things around at the start of the fourth day with two late wickets in India’s 337 all out.

‘Every day as a cricketer you go out wanting five wickets or a hundred, but that doesn’t often happen. You are going to have more bad days than good days and you are going to have to deal with those,’ said England bowling coach Jon Lewis.

‘Jack showed his character with the way he came back after Pant got after him.

‘He’s bowled an absolute beauty to get out Rohit – who is obviously a class, class player – and looks a real threat on this pitch.’

England captain Joe Root, who top-scored with 40 and opted to let his side’s second innings take its course rather than declare, threw the new ball to Leach after India opened with their own spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Shahbaz Nadeem.

Leach (Right) took two wickets at the start of day four as India were bowled out for 337

Leach came back strongly after he was thrashed for five sixes by Rishabh Pant on day three

‘There was some skid, some turn, and the inside and outside edge of the bat can be attacked,’ Lewis added.

‘It’s something Jack’s done for Somerset regularly down at Taunton and we are really confident in him doing that job for the team.’

And the tourists do not seem overly perturbed by the prospect of Pant – whose match-winning batting proved decisive in Australia last month – extending his aggressive approach towards their left-arm spinner throughout this four-match series.

‘Rishabh plays the way he plays. In our eyes, he takes high percentage risks. In his eyes, he probably takes low percentage risks. We will try to get the percentage in our favour in terms of trying to get him out,’ Lewis said.