The team’s lack of bravery during the 231-run chase in the first Test match against England was admitted by India skipper Rohit Sharma.
Thanks to outstanding performances from Ollie Pope and rookie left-arm spinner Tom Hartley, England defeated India by 28 runs in the first Test match in Hyderabad.
The home team’s top order was destroyed by Hartley’s captivating performance (7/62) and India’s second innings pursuit of 231 runs took a turn for the worst. Rohit Sharma’s team was bowled out for 202 in the last over of the day. England now leads the five-match series 1-0 after this victory.
This is India’s first-ever defeat in Hyderabad, a city with two venues, and their fourth loss in home Tests since 2013.
Pope’s aggressive style against Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja contrasted sharply with India’s approach during the chase. On a surface that was not especially spin-friendly, the spin combination, despite their strength, could not leave an impression.
Rohit Sharma, the captain of India, was correct when he said that the home team was competitive for a substantial portion of the match. India had a commanding 190-run lead over England in the first innings, but Ollie Pope’s forceful 196-run blow proved to be the game-changer for the English side.
It’s challenging to identify the exact point of failure. We believed we were still very much in the game with a lead of 190. As Rohit Sharma stated at the post-match presentation, “(Ollie Pope’s) batting was) exceptional, one of the best that I have seen in Indian conditions by an overseas batter.”
The Indian skipper thought that on a surface that wasn’t spinning much, the 231-run mark was doable, but the second innings’ batting effort was lackluster.
“I didn’t think the pitch had too much; I thought 230 was manageable. Our batting was insufficient to reach the score. I went over to make sure we were bowling in the appropriate spots. You evaluate what went well and what didn’t when the day is over.
