In a captivating turn of events at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, England clinched a stunning 28-run win over India in the first Test, spearheaded by a soul-ripping spell from debutant left-arm spinner Tom Hartley. Despite India's formidable lead of 190 runs in the first innings, their pursuit of a 231-run target crumbled under the relentless pressure exerted by England's spinners.
Hartley, with an exceptional 7/62, orchestrated India's batting collapse in the final over, leaving the hosts all out for 202. This victory gives England a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and marks India's fourth defeat in home Tests since 2013. The contrast between Ollie Pope's incandescent innings and India's faltering approach during the chase could not have been more evident.
Pope's brilliance was the cornerstone of England's resurgence. His commanding innings of 196 not only powered England to a total of 420 in the second innings but also set the stage for a genuine tilt at victory. India's famed spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja struggled to make an impact on a surface that didn't offer excessive turn, raising questions about the hosts' batting approach.
The turning point for India came when Hartley dismantled their top order. Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer fell victim to their own errors, showcasing the batting unit's ineptitudes against the rookie Lancastrian. India's struggles were further compounded by the dismissals of in-form KL Rahul and skipper Rohit Sharma, both victims of Hartley's guile.
Despite the challenging situation, the resilient pair of Ravichandran Ashwin and KS Bharat temporarily stemmed the slide with a 58-run partnership for the eighth wicket. However, their efforts proved to be a mere delay in England's march to victory.
India's bowling stalwart Jasprit Bumrah initiated the morning session breakthrough by dismissing Rehan Ahmed, but the highlight was Hartley ending the Pope-Hartley alliance with a well-disguised shooter. Pope's stellar innings of 196, an invaluable contribution, ensured England's lead and turned the course of the Test match in their favor.
As England now takes a deserved lead in the series, India face the daunting task of introspection. The lack of intent and hunger during the chase, coupled with an inability to negate spin effectively, poses critical questions for the home team. With the series delicately poised, India must regroup and address their shortcomings to mount a comeback in the upcoming matches.
The first Test has set the stage for an enthralling battle between two cricketing powerhouses, promising more twists and turns as the series progresses. England, propelled by the indomitable spirit shown in Hyderabad, will look to maintain their momentum, while India seeks a resurgence to reclaim their home advantage.
Scoreboard
India 2nd Innings: Rohit Sharma lbw Tom Hartley 39 Yashasvi Jaiswal c Pope b Hartley 15 Shubman Gill c Pope b Hartley 0 KL Rahul lbw Root 22 Akshar Patel c&b Hartley 17 Shreyas Iyer c Root b Leach 13 Ravindra Jadeja run out (Stokes) 2 KS Bharat b Hartley 28 Ravichandran Ashwin st Foakes b Hartley 28 Jasprit Bumrah not out 6 Mohammed Siraj st Foakes b Hartley 12 Extras: (b-4, lb-14, w-1, nb-1) 20 Total: (All out in in 69.2 overs) 202 Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-42, 3-63, 4-95, 5-107, 6-119, 7-119, 8-176, 177-9, 10-202 Bowling: Joe Root 19-3-41-1, Mark Wood 8-1-15-0, Tom Hartley 26.2-5-62-7, Jack Leach 10-1-33-1, Rehan Ahmed 6-0-33-0.
(With inputs from PTI)
