By India’s strong batting performance on a flat pitch was highlighted by centuries from Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, but England kept them in check with timely wickets on Day 1.
India, after winning the toss, faced early setbacks as Mark Wood dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill cheaply. Rajat Patidar’s departure further deepened the trouble for India at 33/3. However, Rohit Sharma anchored the innings, surviving some close calls, including a missed catch by Joe Root and an LBW decision overturned on review.
Rohit gradually accelerated his innings, supported by Jadeja, who was promoted to No. 5. The left-right batting combination frustrated England, with both players capitalizing on loose deliveries and building a strong partnership. Rohit reached his 17th Test fifty and later his 11th Test century.
Just when the partnership seemed to take control, England struck back, with Rohit falling to a short-ball trap. Sarfaraz Khan, one of India’s debutants, then played aggressively, scoring a brisk fifty and adding valuable runs with Jadeja. However, a misunderstanding between the two led to Sarfaraz’s run-out, and Jadeja reached his century soon after.
England’s Mark Wood was the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets, but India finished the day at 326/5, with Jadeja unbeaten on 110.
Brief Scores: India 326/5 (Rohit Sharma 131, Ravindra Jadeja 110*, Sarfaraz Khan 62; Mark Wood 3-69) vs England.
