The five-match test series between India and England kicked off on Thursday, January 25 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. India got off to a brilliant start as the spinners started to spin a web around the England team. Skipper Rohit Sharma’s blinder was also one of the highlights of the first session.
England won the toss and elected to bat first. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett gave them a good start, putting on an unbeaten half-century stand. However, things swung in India’s favour as the spinners came on to bowl. Ravichandran Ashwin sent Duckett back to the hut for 35 runs. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma’s stunning effort dismissed Ollie Pope cheaply.
In the fifteenth over of the first innings, Ravindra Jadeja bowled a tossed-up delivery to Ollie Pople. The England batter got forward and pushed at the delivery with hard hands. He couldn’t get good bat on it and edged the ball to the first slip, Rohit Sharma. The Indian skipper kept his eyes on the ball, and dived forward to take an outstanding catch. Pope had to walk back to the pavilion for just one run.
What a catch by CAPTAIN ROHIT SHARMA.🐐🔥#RohitSharma𓃵 | #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/0LTHIFIPTr
— 𝕏 𝐊𝐏𝐒𝐀⁴⁵ (@kpsa45) January 25, 2024
India, and England play spin-heavy bowling attacks
Team India and England chose a spin-heavy bowling attack for the first Test at Hyderabad. India has three spinners in the playing XI – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. Meanwhile, England have also gone ahead with three spinners – Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley, who is making his Test debut for England in the match.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes(c), Ben Foakes(w), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, Jack Leach
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.