Match: India vs England, 1st Test
Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Dates: January 25-28, 2024
Result: England won by 28 runs (Series Score: England 1-0 India)
India 1st Innings: 436 all out (121 overs)
Top Scorers: Cheteshwar Pujara (87), Rishabh Pant (77), Shreyas Iyer (72)
Bowlers: Tom Hartley (5/117), James Anderson (2/82), Stuart Broad (2/61)
England 1st Innings: 246 all out (64 overs)
Top Scorers: Ollie Pope (108), Joe Root (42), Jonny Bairstow (39)
Bowlers: Mohammed Shami (4/55), Ravichandran Ashwin (3/59), Mohammed Siraj (2/44)
India 2nd Innings: 202 all out (69 overs)
Top Scorers: Rohit Sharma (39), Ravichandran Ashwin (28), Srikar Bharat (28)
Bowlers: Tom Hartley (7/62), Jack Leach (2/40)
England 2nd Innings: 420 all out (102 overs)
Top Scorers: Ollie Pope (196), Ben Stokes (46), Joe Root (43)
Bowlers: Mohammed Shami (3/79), Ravichandran Ashwin (2/106), Mohammed Siraj (2/88)
Match Summary:
India started strong, posting a competitive 436 in their first innings thanks to contributions from Pujara, Pant, and Iyer. England looked shaky in reply, collapsing to 103/5 before a defiant century from Ollie Pope put them back in the game. They were eventually bowled out for 246, leaving India with a lead of 190.
England fought back brilliantly in the second innings, with Pope continuing his heroics with a career-best 196. Ben Stokes and Joe Root provided valuable support, as England built a lead of 230. India’s chase started well, but debutant Tom Hartley ripped through their batting with a magnificent seven-wicket haul. Despite late resistance from Ashwin and Bharat, India fell short by 28 runs, handing England a crucial win and a 1-0 lead in the series.
Key Players:
Ollie Pope: The star of the show, Pope scored a brilliant 108 in the first innings and a match-winning 196 in the second, earning him the Player of the Match award.
Tom Hartley: The debutant wreaked havoc on the Indian batting in the second innings, taking a match-winning 7/62 to seal the victory for England.
Mohammed Shami: India’s pace spearhead took six wickets across both innings, causing problems for the English batsmen.
Turning Points:
Pope’s centuries: Both of Pope’s centuries were crucial in rescuing England from difficult positions and putting them in a winning position.
Hartley’s debut: The young spinner’s exceptional bowling in the second innings turned the tide in England’s favor.
India’s collapse in the second innings: Losing wickets in clusters after a good start cost India dearly and ultimately led to their defeat.
Post-Match Reactions:
Joe Root (England Captain): “Thrilled with the win. Pope was outstanding, and Hartley’s debut was incredible. We showed great character to come back from a difficult position.”
Rohit Sharma (India Captain): “Disappointed with the defeat. We had our chances, but England played well. Credit to Pope and Hartley for their exceptional performances.”
Impact on the Series:
This win gives England a crucial early advantage in the five-match series. India will need to bounce back strongly in the next Test to level the series.
Additional Notes:
This was the first Test between India and England since August 2022.
The 28-run margin was England’s narrowest Test win in India since 2002.
The match saw some exciting individual performances, particularly from Pope and Hartley.
