In the opening Test of the five-match series between India and England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, England emerged victory by a margin of 28 runs, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated second match scheduled to commence on Friday, February 2, 2024.
Winning the toss, England elected to bat, posting a total of 246/10. Skipper Ben Stokes led from the front with a commendable contribution of 70, well-supported by Johnny Bairstow (37) and Ben Duckett (35). India’s spin duo, Ashwin and Jadeja, claimed three wickets each, while Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah secured two wickets each. In response, India’s first innings showcased a resilient performance, huge a total of 436. Yashavi Jaiswal (80), KL Rahul (86), Ravindra Jadeja (87), and Axar Patel (44) were the standout contributors. England’s Joe Root stood out as the pick of the bowlers, recording figures of 4/79, supported by Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley, who both collected two wickets each.
Entering their second innings, England’s batting display revolved around Ollie Pope’s stellar knock of 196, featuring 21 boundaries. Ben Duckett added a valuable 47, while Ben Foakes and Tom Hartley chipped in with scores of 34 each, enabling England to post a total of 420. Chasing a target of 231, India’s second innings saw Rohit Sharma as the top scorer with 39, supported by KL Rahul (22), Srikar Bharat (28), and Ravichandran Ashwin (28). However, the collective effort fell short by 28 runs, and England emerged triumphant in a thrilling encounter.
India have a perfect record at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Ground in Visakhapatnam, winning both their matches played there. They will face England for the second time at this venue, after their previous clash in 2016. Back then, Virat Kohli led India to victory with a stunning century (161 & 81) and Ravichandran Ashwin’s brilliant bowling (five wickets in the first innings and three in the second). India emerged victorious, winning by a margin of 246 runs.
IND vs ENG Test Head-to-Head Record:
India and England have played 132 Test matches against each other. India have won 31, England have won 50, and 50 have been drawn. In India, they’ve played 65 Tests. India has won 22, England have won 15, and 28 have been drawn.
Matches Played
India Won
England Won
Draw
Tie
NR
Abandoned
132
31
51
50
0
0
0
Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium Pitch Report
The Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium pitch in Visakhapatnam is generally considered a batter-friendly surface, but the track tends to support spinners as the game progresses in longer formats like Test matches, similar to most Indian grounds.
Test Records and Stats at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium
So far, in the two Test matches held at this venue, pacers have taken 23 wickets at an average of 32.86, while spinners have claimed 47 wickets at an average of 36.04. Interestingly, the team batting first has won both games. Notably, the average first-innings score at Visakhapatnam is 479.
Matches Played
2
Won Batting First
2
Won Batting Second
0
No Result
0
Matches Tied
0
Matches Drawn
0
Average First Innings Score
479
Highest Team Totals
502
Lowest team Totals
158
Matches won after winning the toss
2
Matches won after losing the toss
0
IND vs ENG Players Battles Watch Out For:
Ben Stokes vs Ravichandran Ashwin
Ben Stokes struggles against Ashwin’s mastery. In 25 Test innings, Stokes has managed only 232 runs at an average of 19.33 against Ravichandran Ashwin. The Indian spinner has dismissed him 12 times in 623 deliveries, with 501 of those being dot balls which makes the extent of his difficulty against Ashwin even more evident. Rohit Sharma vs Jack Leach
Rohit Sharma has an inconsistent record against left-arm spinners, with a strike rate of only 56.91 in 38 innings and 646 runs. He has often struggled against them, facing 1135 deliveries, playing 814 dot balls, and 18 dismissals. Against Jack Leach specifically, Rohit’s struggles continue, with just 105 runs in 223 balls at an average of 21.00 and five dismissals. This inconsistent performance, and particularly his difficulties against Leach, could be a reason for Ben Stokes to consider bringing Leach and the in-form Tom Hartley into the attack to counter Rohit.
X-factors for India vs England:
India
Rohit Sharma is set to play a crucial role for India in their upcoming Test against England at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. His impressive track record against England, combined with his familiarity with the venue, makes him a key player for the hosts. He has scored 810 runs in 19 innings against England, with an average of 47.64, including two centuries and three fifties. This highlights his ability to score big against the English bowlers. In a solitary Test match played at this venue, he smashed 303 runs in two innings at an outstanding average of 151.50, featuring two centuries.
England
Joe Root has a good record against India, racking up 2557 runs at an impressive average of 60.88. He’s particularly fond of Indian soil, averaging 46.80 with two centuries and five fifties in 22 innings. His five-wicket haul in the last match and 13 wickets at a 24.84 average in India show he can contribute with the ball too. With the Visakhapatnam pitch likely favouring spin later in the game, Root might be a crucial Player for England.
India vs England Predicted Playing XI:
India
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah
England
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Mark Wood, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach/Shoaib Bashir.