Jaiswal scored his third fifty-plus score on the tour and was involved in a 94-run opening stand with Rahul
B Sai Sudharsan scored his maiden Test fifty • Getty Images
India 264 for 4 (Sai Sudharsan 61, Jaiswal 58) vs England
Harry Brook’s performative sprinting between overs could not mask the fact that this was a slow day, with neither team in the ascendancy. India fought hard after being inserted under gloomy Manchester skies, personified by B Sai Sudharsan‘s dogged maiden Test half-century, but they never got away from England and lost Rishabh Pant to a serious-looking foot injury.
This was not the day that Ben Stokes had in mind when he won his fourth consecutive toss and chose to bowl first, with India’s openers batting through the morning session and only four wickets falling in 83 overs. But in conceding barely three runs per over, England’s bowlers kept them in the game, even if the sluggish tempo left Brook making his own fun at slip.
KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 94 for the first wicket in 30 overs, but it was Sai Sudharsan, recalled in place of Karun Nair, who embodied India’s patient approach. His half-century was the first by an Indian No. 3 since the final Test of their home defeat to New Zealand last year, and anchored the innings through the afternoon and evening sessions.
But he was dismissed shortly after Pant was forced to retire hurt, falling to Stokes for the third time in as many innings in his nascent Test career when cramped for room on the pull and picking out Brydon Carse at long leg. Jamie Smith, who had dropped a chance for a leg-side strangle when Sai Sudharsan had only 20, breathed a sigh of relief.
Matt Roller is senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98
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