The ongoing Visakhapatnam Test is still in its nascent stage but India holds the upper hand after dismissing England for a paltry 253 in response to their imposing 396. England's start was promising, but Jasprit Bumrah's fiery spell and Kuldeep Yadav's crafty support turned the tide dramatically, leaving the visitors in dire straits. This sets the stage for a captivating battle as India attempts to capitalize on their strong position and England fights for survival.
Bumrah scythed through the English batting lineup, claiming a crucial six-wicket haul. He snagged the prized scalps of Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, and Tom Hartley in the process, extinguishing any hopes of a substantial response. While England's batsmen got starts, mirroring India's first innings, none could convert them into the big scores like Yashasvi Jaiswal did for the hosts. This gulf in individual conversions leaves England precariously placed in the game, facing an uphill battle against a dominant Indian side.
Rohit in no mood for a slip-up!
Fresh in his memory from the Hyderabad Test where a commanding lead slipped away, Rohit Sharma recognized the crucial moment at Visakhapatnam when England reached 143/4. Determined to avoid a repeat, Rohit Sharma sent out an explosive statement in what was a burst of passionate instructions urging his team to seize complete control and not let the grip loosen. His words which were caught on the stump mic has gone viral and fans are in absolute splits. This highlights Rohit's keenness to learn from past errors and his proactive leadership in steering the team towards victory.
Rohit Sharma 😂😂😂😂
— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) February 3, 2024
* Headphones*pic.twitter.com/KwtI514v2G
It remains to be seen if India manage to end up on the irght side of the result this time around. For that to happen, the Indian batters will need to put up a better performance in the second innings to give the bowlers enough room and comfort to dismiss Ben Stokes and Co.