IND vs ENG 4th Test: Ashwin, Axar does the magic again as India seize control on Day 1
The first hour of the match showed that England's younger lot is still feeling the after-effects of the demoralising 'Pink Ball' loss. Brought into action as early as in the sixth over, Patel bowled an arm ball which had Dom Sibley (2) leaving a huge gap between bat and pad, trying to play for the spin. The result was an inside edge onto the stumps.
India ended the day at 24 for 1 with wily old James Anderson (5-5-0-1) accounting for an out-of-form Shubman Gill (0). Rohit Sharma (8 batting, 34 balls) and Cheteshwar Pujara (15 batting, 36 balls) were holding fort for the home side.
India vs England 4th Test Day 1
India vs England 4th Test Day 1: R Ashwin
India vs England 4th Test Day 1: Axar Patel
There was turn and bounce but the pitch was far from being a minefield that some of the England batsmen save Ben Stokes (55, 121 balls) made it out to be. For India, spinners Axar Patel (26-7-68-4), Ravichandran Ashwin (19.5-4-47-3) and Washington Sundar (7-1-14-1) toyed with the already messed up minds, clueless on how to deal with the conditions. (Twitter/BCCI)