3rd Session Updates:
England resumed their innings at 215/8, with Ben Stokes and Mark Wood batting on 43 and 7, respectively.
After gruelling second session, Stokes turned into 'Bazball' mode and scored a quickfire half-century.
Ravichandran Ashwin struck his third wicket of the innings as he dismissed Mark Wood for 11 at 234/9.
Ben Stokes was joined by Jack Leach for the 10th wicket partnership. Stokes fighting innings come to an end after Jasprit Bumrah dismissed England skipper dismissed for 70.
England bundled out for 246 in 64.3 overs.
India assumed their first innings as Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal walked out to bat. The hosts started off their innings with a four by Jaiswal.
Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed two sixes of Tom Hartley's bowling in the second over of the India's first innings batting.
Jaiswal continues to lead India's batting as he inches closer to fifty. He currently batting at strike rate of 105.13. India finish day 1 strongly on 119-1 as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill lead the way. The latter will resume day 2 on 76 off 70 deliveries. Jack Leach has been the sole wicket-taker for England,
2nd Session Summary:
England 215/8 At Tea In Hyderabad. Ben Stokes 43*, Jadeja 3/75, Axar 2/33
England has successfully surpassed the 200-run milestone, likely achieving their initial target for this innings. With Stokes still holding ground at the crease, they aim to accumulate more runs.
Although the session saw dominance from India's spinners, Bumrah, entering the game later, showcased his trademark cutter, dismissing Rehan Ahmed. Despite acknowledging the possibility of preserving two more wickets, England remains content with their current position.
England resumed their innings with 108/3 in 28 overs on the board. Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root will be hoping to form a good partnership. Axar Patel takes the ball in the second session.
Bairstow and Root kept the England's batting sailing. However, their partnership came to an end after Axar Patel dismissed the former for 37 with a ripper at 121/4.
Joe Root has now joined by skipper Ben Stokes in the middle to carry on England's batting.
Joe Root was looking set to score big. However, his stay at the crease came to an end after he was caught by Jasprit Bumrah off Ravindra Jadeja at 125/5.
Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes were looking to steady England's batting after Joe Root's wicket. But, Axar Patel ended latter's short stay at the crease he was edged out for 4 at 137/6.
Ben Stokes takes the charge of England's batting as he has been joined by Rehan Ahmed at the crease. Meanwhile, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma brought Jasprit Bumrah after spinners scalped six wickets.
Stokes and Rehan looked set to form a good partnership. The pair took the advantage of overthrow by Indian fielders as they ran for six runs. However, England's batting further crumbled after Bumrah dismissed Rehan Ahmed for 13 at 155/7.
After Rehan's wicket, Ben Stokes and Tom Hartley carried on England's batting. The pair was nearing 200-run mark for the visitors in the first innings until Ravindra Jadeja sent back Hartley for 24 at 193/7.
1st session Updates
Jasprit Bumrah opens the bowling for India, while Zak Crawley takes the strike for England On Day 1 of the first Test.
England's opening pair of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett provide a good start for the visitors in the first session. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj struggled to take a wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja brought into attack with a hope of early breakthrough. England were 41/0 after 8 overs.
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have kept their England's momentum early on in the first session on Day 1. After 11 overs, visitors were 53/0.
Ravichandran Ashwin provided the first breakthrough for Team India as he dismissed Ben Duckett for 39 at 55/1 in the 12th over.
Ollie Pope joined Zak Crawley at the crease to carry on England's batting. Ravindra Jadeja brought into the attack.
Ollie Pope stay at the crease was short as Ravindra Jadeja dismissed him for 1 at 58/2.
Ravichandran Ashwin ended Zak Crawley's stay at the crease as he dismissed England opener for 20 at 60/3. Joe Root was joined by Jonny Bairstow in the middle to carry on England's batting.
After quick wickets, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow kept England's batting sailing and took the visitors past 100-run mark. At the end of first session, England were 108/3 in 28 overs, with Bairstow and Root batting on 32 and 18, respectively.
Toss
England skipper Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bat first on the spinning track in Hyderabad.
Meanwhile, Team India picked three spinners and two pacers for the Test series opener. Yashasvi Jaiswal to open with Rohit Sharma, while KL Rahul to bat at No.4 in the absence of Virat Kohli
Captains say:
Ben Stokes: We are gonna have a bat. It's typical conditions in India. The preparation has been really good. We know the challenge, India is a successful side. We have Hartley making his debut, Rehan has played only one Test, but they have a good leader in Leach. Woody is that X-factor bowler.
Rohit Sharma: We would have batted as well. Looks dry. Whether we bowl or bat first, we have the skills and we got the guys to do the job. A good series, I am playing for the first time a five-match series. We have played in these conditions before. We know what to do, it's all about executing your skills. We've got three spinners and two seamers - Bumrah, Siraj, Axar, Jadeja and Ashwin. It was a tough one (to leave out Kuldeep Yadav) Axar has done well and bats really well in these conditions. Probably the reason we went with Axar.
IND Playing XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Srikar Bharat(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
ENG Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Mark Wood, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach.
Team India and England will lock horns with each in the first Test of the five-match Test series at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium In Hyderabad today (Thursday, January 22).
Both sides will look to renew their rivalry after playing the last Test series in July 2022, when ended in 2-2 draw after England won the fifth Test by five wickets at Egdbaston.
England are on their first Test tour of India ever since captain-coach duo of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over the reins of Three Lions red-ball squad. With 'Bazball' is expected to be on the focus in Test series opener, Indian spinners will look to dominate, given the nature of pitch in Hyderabad.
Pitch Report:
Murali Karthik and Kevin Pietersen: It's a pitch of three parts. It has very dry edges close to the bat. It's a lot more dry on this side. Here, it's going to turn. In the middle of the surface, second part, there's an even covering of grass but it's dry underneath. Dry patches in the middle of the wicket. To the other side of the wicket, there's less dry patch closer to the bat. There's going to be a lot of spin. You win the toss and bat first. The spinners will come into play very soon.
No Virat Kohli for two Tests
Team India will miss the services of their star batter Virat Kohli as he withdrew from the squad for initial two Tests of the series against England and returned home due to personal reasons.
Kohli's unavailability for Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam Tests is indeed a big blow for Rohit Sharma-led as he has a good record against England at home, amassing 1015 runs, including 3 centuries and 4 fifties, at an average of 56.38 in 21 innings.
Royal Challengers Bangalore batter Rajat Patidar has been added to the squad for the initial Two tests against England. The 30-year-old was part of India A team against England Lions, where he scored 151 in the first innings.
It remains to be seen whether Patidar will be making his Test debut against England in Hyderabad.
England Playing XI for First Test
England announced their playing XI on the eve of the opening match of the Test series against England.
Three Lions has picked only sole pacer in Mark Wood and three spinners in debutant Rehan Ahmed, debutant Tom Hartley and Jack Leach. Given the nature of pitch in Hyderabad, England's team management decided to field three spinners to counter India's batting.
Experienced pacer James Anderson didn't find his place in the Playing XI, but likely to feature in the second Test in Hyderabad.
