Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen urged the team management to bowl part-time spinner Joe Root at the beginning of the first session of Day 2. Kevin Pietersen mentioned that Joe Root could be more effective than other spinners in the first ongoing test against India.
The Ben Stokes-led team managed to score 246 runs in the first innings after electing to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Captain Ben Stokes led the team for a half-century, scoring 70 runs with the help of 6 boundaries and 3 sixes.
Ravindra Jadeja led India’s bowling attack with figures of 3/68. Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel got three and two wickets respectively. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah also played a vital role, claiming two wickets for 28 runs on the opening day.
In response, the Indian team got off to a good start, with openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring at a decent rate. However, left-arm bowler Jack Leach provided a breakthrough for the visiting team by dismissing the Indian captain, who scored 24 runs off 27 balls.
The home team finished with 119/1 on the first day of the series. Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 76 runs off 70 balls, including three sixes and nine boundaries. Shubman Gill, who batted at No. 3, scored 14 for 43 before the end of the day.
Joe Root will spin the ball – Kevin Pietersen
Before the start of play on the second day, Kevin Pietersen suggested including Joe Root in the bowling line-up at the start of the first session. In a social media post, Pietersen emphasized Root’s spin capabilities and urged the team to use him to bowl with effective spin.
“Can Joe Root PLEASE play first this morning? He will spin the ball! Kevin Pietersen wrote.
Can Joe Root PLEASE bowl first this morning? He will spin the ball! 🙏🏽#INDvENG
– Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) January 26, 2024
Joe Root gave England a good start by dismissing India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first over of the second day. The left-handed batsman, who scored 80 runs off 74 balls, hit a boundary off Root in the second delivery before being dismissed on the fourth ball.
Joe Root’s bowling performance in Test cricket
Joe Root bagged 60 Test wickets at an average of 44.33, including a five-wicket haul and a four-wicket haul. Notably, Root’s best Test bowling figures of 5/8 were achieved against India during the day-night Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in 2021.
During that match, Root took five wickets for eight runs in 6.2 overs during India’s first innings. He sacked Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. Despite Root’s efforts, England faced defeat in the low-scoring Test, losing by 10 wickets in two days.
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, Jack Leach
Also Read: “End of this…” – Kevin Pietersen reacts to Virat Kohli leaving the Indian team midway before the Test series.