By Joe Root’s 31st Test century rescued England from a precarious position and put them in a strong position by the end of the first day in Ranchi.
After winning the toss on a pitch offering assistance to the bowlers, England found themselves struggling at 112/5 in the first session. However, Root built crucial partnerships, notably a 113-run stand for the sixth wicket with Ben Foakes (47), which helped the visitors stage a strong comeback.
Root and Foakes navigated through the second session without losing a wicket, displaying a disciplined approach to their batting. Root, in particular, displayed a classical batting style, focusing on rotating the strike and building a steady innings. Foakes provided solid support, and their partnership was crucial in steering England through some challenging periods against the Indian bowlers.
The pitch provided ample assistance to both spinners and pacers, leading to plenty of LBW shouts and reviews. Despite some early success, India’s bowlers struggled to break through England’s resilience, with Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow also contributing valuable runs.
Debutant pacer Akash Deep impressed with his sharp bowling, causing problems for England’s top order. However, Root’s century, supported by contributions from the lower order, helped England reach a respectable total of 302/7 by the end of the day’s play.
Root’s innings was a testament to his skill and determination, as he countered India’s bowling variations and marshaled the lower order effectively. His century puts England in a strong position going into the remainder of the Test match.
Brief Scores: England 302/7 ( Joe Root 106*, Ben Foakes 47, Zak Crawley 42; Akash Deep 3-70) vs India.
