As expected in the high voltage 5 match series between India and England, it was clear that due to the pitch conditions in the Indian subcontinents and the rich experience of Indian spinners in their own backyard , England infused with Bazball tactics would always find it difficult to tackle Indian supremacy. Former English batter now commentator Kevin Pietersen also instilled the fact that India’s experience in spin department has more threat than the English spinners who barring Jack Leach has no experience playing in India.
This fear from Kevin Pietersen came into reality as England were bowled out for 246 in 64.3 overs. Having started the batting at the run rate at around 5.00 runs per over, England by the end of their innings at 246 runs in 64 ,3 overs had run rate dropped to 3.81 when the innings ended with Indian spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel took 8 wickets amongst themselves.
On the contrary fiery start by Yashaswi Jaiswal who is unbeaten on 76 of 70 balls and skipper Rohit Sharma whose 24 runs came in 27 balls, Indian openers inserted heavy launch on English inexperienced spin attack barring Jack Leach which included debutant Tom Hartley who was taken to cleaners by Jaiswal and Rehan Ahmed who is one test old in the subcontinent . India has ended Day 1 on a stronger note with having scored 119 runs in just 23 overs with a run rate over 5 and look to take big lead over England on Day 2 as well with 9 wickets in hand.
This performance from England spinners worries former English batter Kevin Pietersen who was a part of England side that last won a series in India back in 2012 and believes the lack of experience for Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley in Indian conditions would damage England’s hope of winning the test series in India since 2012. as reply to strong Indian spinners.
My big concern is England’s spinners- Kevin Pietersen
Pietersen pointed out that the England spin trio of Jack Leach, Tom Hartley, and Rehan Ahmed failed to get the purchase from the pitch compared to their Indian counterparts – Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel.
“My big concern is England’s spinners. I said it before the series. When we won here in 2012, we had Swann and Panesar, who outbowled Ashwin, Harbhajan and Pragyan Ojha,”
“Unfortunately, from what I have seen here today, I can’t see these three spinners outbowling Indian spinners. I just didn’t see the ball spin enough. A couple of balls, they got to spin,” he added.
Kevin Pietersen impressed on young Yashaswi Jaiswal heroics with the bat
Kevin Pietersen further defended the spin trio, saying that Yashaswi Jaiswal went all guns blazing, exposing inexperienced Tom Hartley and Rehan Ahmed to put the visitors on the back foot. He said:
“England spinners just never got the border spin. Yes, they weren’t allowed to spin it because Yashasvi Jaiswal was hitting it. But also you only need one ball to spin or two balls to spin. They just couldn’t get into spin,”
Pietersen added:
“You contrast that with India. First of all, we thought, Oh, here we go. Next ball. Then we get the ball to bounce. Then we get the ball to spin. Then another one bounces. We just didn’t see that with the England spinners,”
Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 76 runs off 70 balls, including three sixes and nine boundaries as Team India finished 119/1 at stumps on Day 1. He will resume the innings alongside Shubman Gill (14 off 43) on Day 2.India captain Rohit Sharma departed for 24 off 27 deliveries by holing out to England captain Ben Stokes at mid-on. The hosts are trailing by 127 runs with nine wickets in hand and it would be an interesting watch how Day 2 occurs for touring side in their pursuit to win over India in a test series since 2012.