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The much-awaited Test series between India and England commenced on Thursday, marking the beginning of the cricketing battle at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. With both teams eager to claim early dominance, England won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch renowned for favoring spin bowlers, setting the stage for a match characterized by spin-dominated bowling attacks from both sides.
Anil Kumble forecasts Test series outcome
As the series unfolds, former Indian cricketing maestro Anil Kumble has ventured a prediction on how the contest will unfold. Speculating on the potential scoreline, Kumble forecasted that the Indian team led by Rohit Sharma would secure victory in the five-match Test series against England, emerging triumphant with a commanding 4-1 margin.
Historical context and previous encounters
Kumble’s forecast gains significance against the backdrop of historical matchups between the two cricketing powerhouses. England’s last Test series victory in India dates back to their 2012-13 tour, where they clinched the battle by a 2-1 margin. Subsequently, India have asserted their dominance on home soil, securing comprehensive series victories against England in 2016 (4-0) and 2020-21 (3-1). The most recent red-ball encounter between the two sides occurred in England, culminating in a tightly contested 2-2 draw.
“I’m not a guy with a crystal ball, but I can certainly see India winning the series. I am thinking all five Tests would provide results because of the approach that these two teams have towards Test cricket. Unless and until the weather intervenes, all five Test matches would have results. I would give one to England and four to India,” said Kumble during an interaction on Jio Cinema.
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England’s eventful start on the opening day
Reflecting on the proceedings of the ongoing first Test, England navigated their way to a score of 108/3 at lunch on the opening day. The visitors initiated their innings with their renowned aggressive batting approach, amassing 55 runs without any loss. While England seemed poised to maintain their momentum, the Indian bowlers staged a comeback at a crucial juncture.
Ravichandran Ashwinmade the breakthrough by dismissing Ben Duckett for 35 runs in the 12th over. Subsequently, the tourists suffered two more setbacks, finding themselves at 60/3 in 15.1 overs. However, Joe Root (18 not out) and Jonny Bairstow (32 not out) forged an unbroken 48-run partnership, steering England to lunch without further damage.
