England made a very good start with the bat after winning the all-important toss in the first test of a long series. The English openers stitched a 55-run opening partnership to get the visitors off to a wonderful start. Mohammad Siraj started off in erratic fashion and was duly punished by Zak Crawley. Ben Duckett got going as well.
R Ashwin was again the man for India who provided the important breakthrough to the hosts, as he dismissed Duckett LBW off a one which kept straight. Ollie Pope, who looked tentative in his short stay, was the next to depart as he edged Ravindra Jadeja to the slip fielder. Ashwin further dismissed the well set Crawley to reduce England to 60/3.
Jonny Bairstow then walked out with a positive intent as he hit Jadeja for a couple of boundaries and raced to 32 before the lunch break to revive England alongside Root. Bairstow and Root put up a crucial 61-run stand before the former was dismissed by Axar off a beauty which drifted in and then turned to hit the off stumps. Root then failed to connect properly while attempting to sweep a delivery that wasn’t full as the top edge went straight to short fine leg.
Wickets kept falling in frequent intervals which forced Stokes to open up finally. Ben stokes played and exceptional knock of 70 and was duly supported by the debutant Tom Hartley who chipped in with few quick runs. Bumrah in the end bowled a pretty good spell to to send England packing at 246.
Jaiswal then came out all guns blazing to lead India’s strong reply. Hartley the debutant was picked apart continuously by Jaiswal and even Rohit to an extent as India brought up their fifty off just 39 deliveries. Jack Leach managed to end the rapid opening stand when Rohit mistimed one to get caught. India however ended the day on high scoring 119 runs in just 23 overs with 9 wickets still in hand.
Brief scores: England 246 (Ben Stokes 70, Jonny Bairstow 37; R Ashwin 3/68); India 119/1 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 76*; Jack Leach 1/24), India trail by 127 runs
