How did Sudharsan’s 61 help India reach 264/4 against England?

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How did Sudharsan’s 61 help India reach 264/4 against England?

Synopsis

Day One of the fourth Test has seen some dramatic moments at Old Trafford. With India at 264/4, the spotlight falls on B Sai Sudharsan’s first Test fifty and Rishabh Pant's injury. Will India maintain this momentum in the series?

Key Takeaways

  • Sudharsan's maiden Test fifty showcases his talent.
  • Pant's injury raises concerns for India's batting lineup.
  • Strong opening partnership laid a solid foundation.
  • England's bowling strategy made an impact after the initial session.
  • Bad light interrupted play, affecting the game's flow.

Manchester, July 23 (NationPress) Bad light abruptly concluded Day One of the fourth Test in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series at Old Trafford, with India managing to reach 264/4 after 83 overs, thanks mainly to B Sai Sudharsan’s commendable score of 61 – marking his inaugural fifty in Tests.

Sudharsan, who was reinstated in the lineup in place of Karun Nair, had a shaky beginning and was dropped on 20. However, the left-handed batsman showcased his skills by striking seven boundaries in his innings of 151 balls on a challenging pitch amidst overcast weather.

Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed a resilient 58 while forming a vital 94-run opening partnership with KL Rahul, who scored 46. However, India’s attention is also focused on Rishabh Pant's right foot injury, which forced him to retire hurt at 37. He was sent for scans after suffering a significant blow to his foot, and the swelling is concerning, potentially affecting his further participation and the match's outcome.

In the morning, Ben Stokes won the toss for the fourth time and opted for India to bat first. Initially, Jaiswal had his fair share of luck as Chris Woakes repeatedly challenged him outside the off-stump, but the experienced pace bowler couldn’t find the edge during his long eight-over spell, with Jaiswal scoring three fours off him while Rahul hit him for two boundaries.

When Brydon Carse entered the attack, Rahul struck him for consecutive fours, and Jaiswal also found gaps, pushing his score further. Rahul surpassed 400 runs in the series and faced Jofra Archer more than his younger partner Jaiswal, who had fallen to the pacer twice at Lord’s.

After cutting Stokes for four, Jaiswal got a fortunate boundary off Archer before hitting him for a six, as he and Rahul navigated through the first session without losing a wicket before the lunch break.

The second session commenced with Jaiswal aggressively scoring off Carse, hitting two fours, but Woakes finally earned a breakthrough. On the last delivery of the 30th over, a well-directed ball from Woakes found Rahul's edge, resulting in a catch by Zak Crawley at third slip, ending the opening partnership at 94.

Jaiswal went on to secure his gritty 12th Test fifty but was dismissed just after the drinks break. Liam Dawson claimed his first Test wicket in his comeback after eight years, as Jaiswal’s defensive stroke found the edge and was caught by Harry Brook at first slip for 58.

Dawson, who replaced the injured Shoaib Bashir, kept Sudharsan under control. Sudharsan was fortunate not to be dismissed on 20 due to a misfield by Jamie Smith off Stokes’ bowling.

However, Stokes struck again when Shubman Gill was adjudged lbw after shoulder arms to an in-ducker, which was confirmed by replays showing the ball clipping the top of the off-stump, sending Gill back for 12

The final session began with Sudharsan executing a hook shot off Archer for four, followed by a stylish pull shot for another boundary. Pant astounded everyone with a front-foot sweep for four, attempting a reverse-ramp shortly after.

Pant then cleared long-on for six against Carse, as he and Sudharsan added fifty to their counter-attacking partnership and later took India past 200. However, on the fourth ball of the 68th over, Pant attempted a reverse-sweep against Woakes but unfortunately under-edged the ball onto his foot.

Despite England using a review for the lbw, Pant was in evident pain, with swelling on his foot resembling a table tennis ball. An ambulance buggy later took the grimacing Pant off the field, as he retired hurt on 37, halting his partnership with Sudharsan at 72.

Sudharsan then achieved his maiden Test fifty with a confident drive through cover off Joe Root for four. However, Stokes’ strategy of bowling short finally paid off as Sudharsan, cramped for room, top-edged a pull to long leg, marking the third time Stokes dismissed him in this series.

As bad light forced England to bowl with spinners from both ends, Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur, both not out on 19, managed to hit three boundaries between them before play was called off, concluding a day filled with fluctuating fortunes in Test cricket.

Brief scores:

India 264/4 in 83 overs (B. Sai Sudharsan 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 58; Ben Stokes 2-47, Chris Woakes 1-43) against England

Point of View

It's crucial to acknowledge the significant achievements and challenges faced by the Indian team in this Test match. Sudharsan's performance is commendable, but Pant's injury raises concerns that could impact the game's outcome. This ongoing series is not just about statistics; it's about resilience and strategic gameplay.
NationPress
24/07/2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the score of India on Day One?
India scored 264 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 83 overs on Day One.
Who scored the highest runs for India?
B Sai Sudharsan scored the highest runs for India with an impressive 61.
What injury did Rishabh Pant sustain?
Rishabh Pant suffered a foot injury that caused him to retire hurt during the match.
What was the opening partnership score?
The opening partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul was 94 runs.
Who took the wickets for England?
Ben Stokes took 2 wickets, while Chris Woakes took 1 wicket for England.