After Ollie Pope’s blitzkrieg, debutant Tom Hartley’s spin inspired England to a 28-run victory in the opening Test against India at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday.
The slow left-arm orthodox spinner made the most of the low surface, using the rough to produce uneven bounce and sharp spin to trouble the Indian batters. Hartley’s magic with the ball on Day 4 proved to be the turning point for the visitors, who had been hoping for an unprecedented comeback.
India’s decision to send Axar Patel to the fifth spot backfired when Hartley took a comfortable catch, forcing him to depart for 17. Captain Joe Root joined the party, spinning the ball sharply into KL Rahul and trapping him in front of the stumps for 22 runs.
The Hyderabad crowd fell into silence as Ravindra Jadeja, the hero of the first innings, failed to make an impact and was dismissed thanks to Ben Stokes’s remarkable effort in the field.
With 24 runs and four wickets in just 30 minutes, England took control of the game. Jack Leach entered the attack and took a crucial wicket by forcing a massive outside edge from Iyer.
Despite the resilient partnership between Bharat and Ashwin, Hartley once again provided the breakthrough, breaching Bharat’s defense and ending the 570-run stand. Ashwin followed suit a couple of overs later, caught while trying to step out of his crease. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj played a few shots, reigniting hope in the crowd, but ultimately fell short.
In the final over of the day, Siraj’s attempt to shuffle down the crease resulted in Hartley dismissing him, ending India’s second innings on 202. Hartley finished with impressive figures of 7-72.
Earlier in the Test, England struggled against India’s spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja, posting a total of 246. In reply, India’s strong batting display, led by Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, resulted in a total of 436. However, Ollie Pope’s exceptional innings of 196 shifted the momentum in England’s favor and set the stage for their remarkable victory.
With this victory, England has taken an early lead in the series, showcasing their resilience and determination in a challenging foreign environment. The spotlight now shifts to the next Test match, where India will look to bounce back and level the series.
