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Jonny Bairstow (Source: Twitter)
The much-awaited England tour of India started with a brilliant day with the bowl for the Indian team. The Indian spinners were all over the English batters who looked clueless about Indian spin bowling. The left-arm spinner Axar Patel delivered a significant breakthrough for India during the second session of Day 1 in the first Test against England, dismissing Jonny Bairstow with an exceptional delivery.
The England wicketkeeper batter Bairstow displayed a clear understanding of the line and length of the Indian spinners and formed a valuable 61-run partnership with Joe Root, appearing mostly at ease. India required a special effort to break the partnership, and Axar Patel delivered just that. In a classic left-arm spinner's dismissal from around the wicket, the ball pitched around the middle and leg, turning just enough to evade Jonny Bairstow's defence and strike the top of the off stump.
The star India spinner had previously dismissed Jonny Bairstow twice during England's Test tour to India in 2021, and this marked the third instance of Patel getting the better of the right-hander in the longest format. In the previous series when both these teams met, Axar troubled the wicketkeeper batter throughout the series.
Watch the video:
Cracking Delivery From Axar Patel 🥵 @akshar2026 pic.twitter.com/UXVKpVQowA
— Popa (@CaptainVK18) January 25, 2024
Indians’ spinner all over the English batters
England resumed their innings at 108/3 in 28 overs, with Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root aiming to build a strong partnership. Axar Patel took the ball in the second session. Bairstow and Root continued their batting, but their partnership was broken by Axar Patel, who dismissed Bairstow for 37, leaving England at 121/4.
Once Bairstow was dismissed, the legendary spinner Ravindra Jadeja struck another major blow to the England team. Jadeja dismissed the former England skipper Joe Root, who fell tried playing a sweep shot. In addition to it, the wicket keeper batter Ben Foakes also followed back to the hut as he was caught behind by KS Bharat behind the stumps.