• Team India made a statement of intent in the morning session of the fourth Test against England in Manchester.

  • Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal ensured India did not lose a single wicket in the first session.

ENG vs IND: Fans erupt as KL Rahul & Yashasvi Jaiswal lead India to wicketless first session on Day 1 of Manchester Test
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal guide India to excellent opening session in Manchester Test (Image Source: X)

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Team India made a statement of intent in the morning session of the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, by reaching 78 without loss at lunch. After being asked to bat first on a lively pitch, openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal ensured India did not lose a single wicket in the first session, navigating a probing English pace attack with grit and composure.

KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal hold firm in testing conditions

The surface at Old Trafford offered pace, bounce and movement—more than what we had seen in the earlier matches of the series. Still, both Indian openers showed great application and discipline, choosing to play late and under their eyes, leaving balls outside off with confidence. Rahul led from the front with a composed 40*, while Jaiswal looked assured for his unbeaten 36.

There were some nervy moments, especially against Chris Woakes, who bowled an excellent eight-over spell and consistently troubled the batters by hitting the right channels. He even found the outside edge a couple of times, but luck favoured India as the ball failed to carry to the slips.

England bowlers toil without success

England, despite exploiting early movement, failed to make inroads. The new Dukes ball was expected to challenge the batters significantly in the opening hour, but the Indian openers did well to blunt its threat. The Dukes has generally gone soft after 30 overs in this series, so the pressure now shifts on England’s bowlers to strike early in the post-lunch session.

Also WATCH: ENG vs IND – Chris Woakes delivers a monster ball that almost destroys Yashasvi Jaiswal’s bat on Day 1 of Manchester Test

Momentum with India as game progresses

Having gone wicketless in the morning session, England will be under pressure to find breakthroughs soon. For India, the unbeaten partnership between Rahul and Jaiswal has laid a solid platform. If the duo can continue for another session, India could set themselves up for a commanding first-innings total on a pitch that still has enough in it for the bowlers.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Also READ: Fans go wild as Anshul Kamboj makes his international debut for India in Manchester Test

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