The 5th and final Test match of the India vs England (IND vs ENG) series, currently underway at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, saw India end Day 1 at 135/1, trailing England’s first innings total of 218 by 83 runs.
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While England might have hoped for a strong start to put pressure on India, their batting faltered against the Indian bowling attack. Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the wrecker-in-chief, claiming a 5-wicket haul (5/25) while Ravichandran Ashwin picked up 4 wickets (4/51). Openers Zak Crawley (79) and Ben Duckett (27) provided England with a decent start, but wickets fell at regular intervals thereafter, restricting them to a below-par total.
Ollie Pope still can't come of this dismissal 🆚 Jasprit Bumrah#INDvENG #KuldeepYadav #INDvsENG #ShubmanGill#INDvsENGTestpic.twitter.com/vEAXcBogKh
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) March 7, 2024
India, in response, lost their young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (57) early, caught behind the wicket by Ben Foakes off Shoaib Bashir’s bowling. However, experienced campaigners Rohit Sharma (52*) and Shubman Gill (26*) displayed composure and navigated the remaining overs cautiously, ensuring India ended the day with the upper hand.
England’s Innings Folds for 218:
England captain Ben Stokes opted to bat first after winning the toss, but their decision backfired as they were bundled out for 218 runs. Kuldeep Yadav’s spin wreaked havoc, dismissing Ollie Pope (11), Joe Root (26), Jonny Bairstow (29), Ben Stokes (0), and Ben Foakes (24). Ravichandran Ashwin also chipped in with crucial wickets, removing Tom Hartley (6), Mark Wood (0), and James Anderson (0).
India Lose Early Wicket but Recover
India’s chase began on a shaky note as they lost their in-form opener Yashasvi Jaiswal early. However, the experienced duo of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill displayed their resilience, stitching together an unbeaten 81-run partnership for the second wicket. They played cautiously, ensuring they didn’t lose any further wickets before the close of play.
Match in the Balance
With four days remaining in the Test, the match is still very much in the balance. India will be aiming to build on their current partnership and take a significant lead in the second innings. England, on the other hand, will need to take early wickets to put pressure back on the hosts.
JAISBALL activated. ✅#YashasviJaiswal #INDvENG #INDvsENG #TeamIndia #BharatArmy #COTI🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Az0iYByQNA
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) March 7, 2024
It’s important to remember that this match is a “dead rubber” as India has already secured the IND vs ENG 5-match Test series by winning the three Tests. However, both teams will be looking to end the series on a high note and gain valuable momentum going forward.
This Test match promises to be an exciting contest between two determined teams. With the series already decided, both sides will be playing for pride and the chance to score valuable points in the current World Test Championship. It will be interesting to see how the remaining days unfold and which team emerges victorious.
