Joe Root won the toss and put India to Bat, hoping for the repeat of the last test match. The first hour was quite good for India with no wickets lost and few runs on the board. But once Woakes removed Rohit Sharma with an effort ball, India again looked vulnerable. Rahul, Pujara missed out, Jadedja was promoted up the order, that move certainly raised some eyebrows. The move didn't work, Jadeja went soon after lunch then Kohali scored a half century his most fluent innings on this tour thus far, even though he was given a life when he was on 22, he looked good otherwise. But he fell immediately after reaching his fifty. Rahane and Pant departed soon after their batting woes continue. India were already looking down the barrel. Then came Shardul Thakur at the create and played a gem of an innings, in fact he scored the fastest fifty in England in tests. That innings somewhat saved India from another batting debacle. India were eventually all out for 191.
Indian bowlers were pumped up from the get go. Bumrah struck twice in his first over removing both the openers giving India an energy boost. But the real wicket for India came near the end of the day's play when Umesh Yadav went through Root's defence and clean bowled him with an absolute beauty of a delivery. India went into the shade on a high node with the wicket of Joe Root. The game is nicely balanced at the moment. England have their own problems in batting. It's possible that India might run through the England batting order and could take a lead in the first innings. We'll find that out soon.
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