In a surprising move during the final over of Day 1 in the fourth Test match between India and England in Ranchi, Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma entrusted the ball to young talent Yashasvi Jaiswal. Known for his batting prowess, Jaiswal’s introduction to bowling, particularly his leg-spin, caught many off guard, including experts and fans. The decision likely pleased legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble, who had encouraged Jaiswal to focus on his bowling alongside his batting, even advising him to seek bowling opportunities from Rohit after India’s victory in the third Test.
Kumble said: “Well done on your batting. But one thing that I have seen which I want you to continue as well is that you have a natural leg spin. Yes, and action. So don’t give up on that. Because you never know when that will come in handy. know you’ve had a back spasm, but when you’re working so much on it. Go tell the skipper to give a few overs.”
Meanwhile, England, after a shaky start in the morning session, managed to post a total of 302/7 by the day’s end. Debutant pacer Akash Deep showcased his potential by dismissing both openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, and finishing the day with figures of 3/70, marking a memorable start to his Test career. Despite Akash Deep’s impressive performance, former England captain Joe Root played a defiant innings, remaining unbeaten with a century off 226 balls, providing stability to the English batting lineup. Root’s partnership with Ollie Robinson (31 not out) helped England recover from a precarious position, with the duo adding crucial runs for the sixth wicket.
Earlier in the day, Root and Ben Foakes steadied the innings with a 113-run partnership after England found themselves struggling at 112/5 due to Akash Deep’s early breakthroughs. Making his Test debut in place of the rested Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep overcame an early setback due to a no-ball to dismiss key English batsmen, including Duckett, Ollie Pope, and Crawley. Despite efforts from Jonny Bairstow and skipper Ben Stokes, India’s bowlers, led by Akash Deep and supported by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, maintained pressure on the visitors throughout the morning session.
With India leading the five-Test series 2-1, the match in Ranchi promises further excitement and competitive cricket as both teams vie for dominance.
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