MOHALI, India (AP)

Opener Gautam Gambhir posted a century and former captain Rahul Dravid found his long-lost form yesterday to spur India to 179 for one at the end of an abbreviated opening day of the second Test against England.

Gambhir was unbeaten on 106, his fourth century in 22 Tests, and Dravid was batting on 65 when bad light stopped play 42 minutes before the scheduled close.

Poor visibility also delayed the start of play for 20 minutes. England would be the more thankful of the sides for the lost hour, as the India pair put on an unbeaten 173-run partnership for the second wicket after the early loss of their usual catalyst, Virender Sehwag, for a duck.

Pace bowler Stuart Broad, back in the side after recovering from the hamstring injury which forced him to miss the opening Test which India won by six wickets, induced an edge off Sehwag into wicketkeeper Matt Prior's gloves in the second over of the match for the sole breakthrough.

Heavy wintry conditions coupled with a fair sprinkling of grass on the pitch seemed to favour the bowlers, yet skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni elected to bat after winning the toss.

England's seamers dominated the morning session in which the home team's batsmen struggled against the movement of the ball before Gambhir stamped his authority with some firm drives and cuts.

Left-hander Gambhir's 229-ball knock included 12 fours and a lofted six over covers off spinner Graeme Swann as he dominated the Indian innings, posting his third Test hundred of the season.