Team India might have lost the toss in the pink-ball Test match but they ensured to be in the driver’s seat against the visitors at the world’s largest cricket stadium (Narendra Modi Stadium) in Ahmedabad. Indian spinners delivered the goods with relative ease as they ripped through the defence of England’s batting line-up on the first day itself.
The visitors didn’t last two sessions on opening day as they fell prey to Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin. Axar Patel was the top spinner as he accounted for six dismissals. Axar who picked maiden five-wicket haul in the second Test registered his best bowling figures of 6/38. Ravi Ashwin took 3 wickets to his name.
As a result, England were bowled out for a paltry score of 112 in 48.4 overs. Zak Crawley was the only batsman who showed composure at the crease as he scored 53 with the help of 10 fours before he was dismissed by experienced pacer Ishant Sharma.
Virat Kohli angry at Ben Stokes’ antics
Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill stepped out to bat to add runs to the scoreboard. During India’s batting, captain Kohli was absolutely livid with England all-rounder Ben Stokes as the latter claimed Shubman Gill’s catch. The incident happened in the second over of Team India’s innings when Gill edge England pacer Stuart Broad’s delivery behind the stumps.
Meanwhile, Stokes who was positioned in the slip cordon pulled off a brilliant effort to claim the catch in both hands. However, the match officials were not really convinced with effort in the first place. But the on-field umpires decided to go upstairs. The TV replays on the large screen showed that the red leather landed on the turf before Stokes took the catch.
After watching the replay closely, the umpire made the decision and Gill stayed at the crease. Meanwhile, Stokes and England players were unhappy with the decision as they went on to claim that the catch taken was quite ‘clean’. In the middle of this drama, the cameras were panned on to Indian captain Virat Kohli who was sitting at the bench. The skipper lost his cool and pointed towards the field, making it quite clear that he was not at all pleased with Ben Stokes’ antics.
