In the fifth and final Test of the series at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala, India’s spinner Kuldeep Yadav made a significant impact by securing the initial breakthrough for his team.
Despite England winning the coin toss and choosing to bat under the clear skies, openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett had a promising start.
The duo crafted a robust partnership, accumulating 64 runs and establishing a solid foundation on a pitch that initially hinted at advantages for the pacers.
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IND vs ENG: Kuldeep draws first blood courtesy of Gill’s superb catch
However, India managed to break through when captain Rohit Sharma entrusted the ball to Kuldeep. Meeting the high expectations, Yadav delivered in his very first over, disrupting Duckett’s innings, which seemed to be on a prolonged trajectory.
Despite Duckett’s patient innings, frustration mounted as he faced a series of dot balls. Succumbing to impatience, he attempted a forceful shot on Kuldeep’s googly towards the leg side.
The result was a powerful heave that sent the ball soaring into the air with a thick top edge.
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Shubman Gill, stationed in the cover, sprinted and executed a perfectly timed dive to catch the ball, sending Duckett back to the pavilion after scoring 27 runs off 58 balls.
Watch: Shubman Gill catch video to dismiss Ben Duckett
As of the current update, England’s scoreboard displayed 100/1 after 25.1 overs. Crawley remained steadfast at the crease with an unbeaten 61*, and Ollie Pope was beginning to settle in with 11 runs. Despite England’s determination to rebuild and retaliate, the Indian bowlers, led by Kuldeep, had already made a significant breakthrough, setting the stage for an exhilarating Test match.
