Rain takes away from India a shot at victory in series-opener, match ends in draw

Persistent rain proved to be anti-climactic as India, who had a sensible shot at victory within the series-opener, have been compelled to share factors with England after whole fifth day’s play was washed out, on Sunday.

India wanted to attain 157 runs on the ultimate day however the rain didn’t permit a single ball.

As a part of the brand new World Take a look at Championship cycle, each India and England log house 4 factors every.

Solely 250 plus overs out of a most 450 have been doable as a result of inclement climate as India, chasing a goal of 209, have been well-placed at 52 for 1 in 14 overs on the finish of fourth day.

Whereas cricket stays a sport of wonderful uncertainties, Virat Kohli and his males definitely had a greater shot at full 12 factors from the match.

It might have taken a particular bowling effort from England to cease India from scoring 209 runs regardless of overcast situations which might have definitely aided seam and swing bowling.

KL Rahul, who scored a dogged 84 in India’s first innings, had insisted that the floor was not “unplayable” although scoring runs might need been difficult.

Nonetheless there are a whole lot of takeaways for India from the opening Take a look at of the sequence.

The Indian group in current occasions, save the sequence in 2007 and the one in 2014, have all the time misplaced the opening Take a look at in England and this was a welcome change in that respect.

The largest optimistic for India can be getting the ‘Take a look at batsman’ KL Rahul again, which going ahead ought to profit the guests.

It was right here in England again in 2018 that Rahul’s poor kind lastly led to his ouster from the Take a look at aspect. He was compelled out after the sequence in opposition to West Indies again house.

Even the hundred on the Oval in a useless rubber couldn’t save the fashionable right-hander, who confronted points with shifting deliveries on the off-stump channel.

Nonetheless, on this match Rahul appeared assured for the higher half though a few edges off James Anderson’s bowling did journey to the slip cordon.

His general self-discipline was laudable. He was able to play near his physique and never fiddle with a lot of the deliveries exterior the off-stump.

His drives have been out of the highest drawer and he would definitely rue lacking out on 100 which was there for the taking within the first innings.

If Rahul’s efficiency was the brightest spot, one can’t deny the contribution of Jasprit Bumrah, who’s once more again in his aspect with a 9 wicket haul.

Bumrah was definitely not at his greatest throughout the World Take a look at Championship remaining in opposition to New Zealand and in addition didn’t have an distinctive tour of Australia or the couple of house Take a look at that he performed in opposition to England.

Nonetheless in opposition to England, Bumrah did what he does greatest, bowling fuller size relatively than again of size, which allowed lateral motion. H

His potential to get the deliveries rear up from good size created a whole lot of issues for the batsmen. The yorker which was lacking throughout previous few video games was again throughout the England second innings.

Amongst different selections taken by group administration, the choice to play Ravindra Jadeja as a batting all-rounder and Shardul Thakur as an additional seamer additionally labored nicely.

Nonetheless the highest order batsmen want to give a greater account of themselves within the subsequent Take a look at which shall be performed on the Lord’s from August 12.