Shubman Gill’s vital 114 runs at position four anchored India’s innings on day one, allowing the team to a respectable 310/5. Even with the good show, the young batsman might not be too pleased, considering larger team issues.
England Exhibits Bowling Improvement
England decided to bowl first under almost ideal batting conditions, mindful of India’s good performance at Headingley. The English bowlers showed significant improvement, with Chris Woakes recovering from a poor outing at Headingley, maintaining consistency, and almost achieving more wickets.
Pace bowler Brydon Carse bowled at good pace and aggression despite a flat pitch, while captain Ben Stokes skippered acutely and removed the crucial wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal. Overall, England appeared to be picking up steam, while India appeared to be uncertain.
India’s Team Selection Sparks Debate
India‘s selection of the team caused a stir before the first ball was bowled. The biggest miss was Jasprit Bumrah, who was always going to play only three Tests in the series. But holding him back at this point baffled many, particularly because there was a week’s gap between the first and second Test—sufficient time for Bumrah to recover from the previous efforts.
With India in need of all the help after their defeat at Headingley, the lack of their world-class fast bowler might prove too expensive. On a surface which provided no help, Bumrah’s capability of making breakthroughs might have been priceless.
Mysterious Blend of Players in the Team
India’s overall team make-up also seemed to be baffling. Following Headingley, where India neither adequately supported their batting nor bowling resources, the answer was to double down on doing essentially the same thing. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar were brought into the side, adding depth to the tail’s batting but potentially diminishing the top order and failing to bolster the bowling attack.
This strategy tries to mix batting and bowling but can make the team lack a direction. Whether this risk is worthwhile or not is yet to be seen.
Strong Start but Shaky Foundations for India
India’s beginning to this Test was resolute, but the uncertain team selection and the absence of Bumrah can compromise their bid to mount a comeback in the series. It has a lot to go before it can face England effectively, addressing such issues.
