The First test match series Between India and England is currently underway at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. England has won the toss and opted to Bat first. England has gone with four man spin attack whereas India has included Three spin Attacks in Bowling – Ravichandra Ashwin, Ravichandra Jadeja and Axar Patel in Playing XI along with Two Pacers in the form of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
Ahead of the series, the Indian team and fans received a shock when veteran batsman Virat Kohli pulled out of the first two Tests due to ‘personal reasons’. The BCCI have opted for Madhya Pradesh opener Rajat Patidar to take the GOAT’s place in the Indian line-up for the first two matches.
Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley came out as aggressive as ever as they smashed Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj all around the ground in the first 10 overs. However, India came roaring into the game once the spinners came in. Ravichandran Ashwin drew first wicket in the 12th over by dismissing Duckett. Jadeja then got the wicket of Ollie Pope and that brought Joe Root in the Pitch. Root had a close call off the second ball he faced off Jadeja, with India unsuccessfully trying to overturn an LBW appeal that didn’t go their side.Â
England return to India after about two and a half years and both sides had a change of captains and coaches in the middle period. India was led by Virat Kohli in the 2020/21 series and coached by Ravi Shastri. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were an integral part of this. This time, Kohli is not available for the first two Tests. Rohit Sharma is the captain and this will be his first five-match Test series leading the side and Rahul Dravid is head coach. Apart from this, we cant say whether Both Teams Have changed their Approach.
Here are some of the highlights for today’s Match-
- England Captain Ben strokes won the Toss and Opted to Bat
- KL Rahul will take Virat Kohli place at Number 4
- India is yet to loose a series at home since 2012/2013
