IND vs ENG: England Faces Harsh Fan Criticism as “Bazball” Fails in Hyderabad – 1st Test
On the first day of the much-anticipated Test match between India and England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the crowd showcased its humor and enthusiasm. Fans in Hyderabad creatively expressed their sentiments through chants, questioning England’s proclaimed intent for the series, adding an entertaining element to the cricketing atmosphere.
The day began positively for England after winning the toss, with openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley displaying aggression and consistently finding the boundary in the initial six overs. However, the dynamics shifted dramatically when spin was introduced, and the Indian duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, claiming three wickets in just 20 deliveries. Duckett, Crawley, and Ollie Pope fell in quick succession, putting the onus on former captain Joe Root to anchor the innings.
Hyderabad Hilarity: Fans’ Witty Chants and England’s Day 1 Struggles
Root, along with Jonny Bairstow, managed to stabilize the innings with a 48-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Yet, England faced setbacks right after lunch as Root fell while attempting a sweep, and the scoring rate dwindled. England struggled against the spin trio of Ashwin, Jadeja, and Axar Patel, contradicting their pre-series commitment to aggressive cricket.
Ben Stokes emerged as the lone warrior for England, contributing a resilient 70 off 88 balls. However, the rest of the English batting lineup failed to make significant contributions, resulting in their dismissal for 246 runs by the end of Day 1. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were the standout performers for India, each claiming three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel shared two wickets, setting India in a strong position to dominate the opening Test.
In response, India displayed a quick scoring rate in the final session, led by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who notched a fifty off 47 balls as India raced past the 80-run mark. The contrasting performances of the two teams set the stage for an intriguing continuation of the Test match.
Skipper Rohit Sharma displayed promising form, showcasing crisp shots, but unfortunately, he couldn’t capitalize on the good start. He fell victim to Jack Leach’s delivery while trying to send the ball over the boundary, managing only 24 runs from 25 balls. Following Rohit’s dismissal, Shubman Gill took the crease at No.3. He approached the innings patiently, gradually settling into his batting rhythm.
19:30 IST
