The IND vs ENG Visakhapatnam Test is set very well with India at 336/6 in 93 overs after day 1. The batsmen would consider themselves unlucky if they did not capitalize on the outs and help India reach a score of around 450. Yashasvi Jaiswal finished unbeaten on 179. Earlier in the day, Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first to make the most of the batting conditions.
Given where they stand, the latter along with Ashwin should look to stick with Jaiswal and add another 100 runs at least to the team’s overnight score. All the Indian batsmen got openings, but none could take advantage of them. Jaiswal scored the best score of his career and added key partnerships with all the batsmen.
The best was with Shreyas Iyer as a left-hander and the right-hander added 90 for the third wicket. England’s spinners managed to pick up three wickets in the final session and took the lead late in the day’s play.
Rehan Ahmed and debutant Shoaib Bashir took two each. James Anderson dismissed Sjhubman Gill while Tom Hartley accounted for the wicket of Rohit Sharma. In the absence of Virat Kohli, Rohit, with his experience, should have batted longer after starting. He fell into the trap because he did not see the fielder slipping at leg placed by England captain Ben Stokes.
India and England made some changes ahead of the second Test in Visakhapatnam. India with KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja injured brought in Kuldeep Yadav and Rajat Patidar. Mohammed Siraj was rested and Mukesh Kumar got a chance in his place. Meanwhile, for England, Bashir replaced the injured Jack Leach and veteran James Anderson replaced Mark Wood.
Also Read: “Waiting so long is common in Indian cricket” – Rajat Patidar after his Test debut
There was no devil in the pitch, as former England player Kevin Pieteren admitted in a commentary for Sports 18. The pitch helped the spinners, but it wasn’t a range changer like the Hyderabad wicket was. The batting conditions were also much better, as demonstrated by Jaiswal’s unbeaten knock. He now scored the best score of his career and batted all day in his short Test career.
India are looking to get closer to 500 and for that to happen, Jaiswal and Ashwin will have to bat well and those behind them will also have to contribute.
Jaiswal spoke about his knock after the first day’s play and talked about how the wicket performed during the day’s play. The batsman said the pitch was wet to start and settled in as the day went on. There was enough turn to keep the spinners interested.
“The course played a little different, in the morning it was a little wet and then it calmed down. With the older ball, there was some bounce. Rahul sir and Rohit bhai kept giving me confidence and told me to make this a big innings and stay till the end,” Jaiswal said.
IND vs ENG Day 2 Weather Report & Visakhapatnam Test Launch Report, 2024
Talking about the wicket, it will turn even more as the game progresses. Therefore, batsmen must score as many as possible within the first two hours of play on the second day. Being too defensive could end up losing your wickets, as Rohit Sharma’s wicket demonstrated. Hitters must look to score with intent.
Talking about the weather in Vizag on Saturday, temperatures will be around 30-31 degrees during the day. Humidity will be around 76 percent and there will be periods of clouds as the day progresses. There is also a 15 to 20 percent chance of rain.
Also Read: Kevin Pietersen claims England are ahead in the game despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 179* in Vizag Test