Manchester, July 23 (UNI) Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul provided India with a resolute and confident start after England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl first in the fourth Test of the ongoing series at the Emirates Old Trafford today.
At lunch on Day 1, India had reached 78 without loss, frustrating the English pace quartet on a pitch expected to offer early assistance.
Jaiswal and Rahul batted through the entire first session, absorbing pressure and occasionally unleashing some brilliant strokeplay to set the tone for India’s innings. Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 36 off 74 deliveries, while Rahul held steady at 40 from 82 balls. The duo added 78 runs in 26 overs, blunting the new ball under overcast skies with a mix of discipline and aggression.
Jaiswal, in particular, showcased his growing maturity and fearlessness at the top. After a measured start, he unfurled a series of attacking shots, including a stunning upper-cut six off Stokes in the 25th over that cleared the third-man boundary with ease.
He had earlier carved boundaries through the off-side against Brydon Carse and punished any width offered by the England bowlers. One of the more dramatic moments of the session came when a short ball from Jofra Archer flew off the edge of Jaiswal’s bat as he fell backward, narrowly clearing the slips for four.
KL Rahul, on the other hand, played a more classical and composed knock. He displayed excellent judgement outside the off stump and cashed in on anything short or wide. His boundary off Carse, a sharp cut through point, stood out for its timing and placement.
Rahul also pulled Woakes confidently to the mid-wicket fence and survived a couple of nervy moments early in his innings.
England’s decision to bowl first, driven by the grey skies and fresh surface, did not bear fruit in the opening session. While Jofra Archer was impressively economical, conceding just 15 runs from his 8 overs, he remained wicketless. Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes bowled with control but were unable to trouble the Indian openers consistently. Brydon Carse was expensive, and his length was often erratic, allowing both batamen to settle in.
The session firmly belonged to India, who now have a strong platform to build a formidable first innings total. With the likes of Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant yet to bat, the visitors will look to capitalise on the momentum. England, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly and find early breakthroughs in the post-lunch session to stay competitive in this crucial Test.
India reached 78 for no loss at lunch on the opening day, with both openers unbeaten and looking increasingly assured at the crease.
