First Test: Draw at Nottingham
The first match of the five-match Test series between India and England was played at Nottingham. In the first innings, Team India got off to a positive start by holding England to 183 runs on the strength of effective bowling by fast bowlers.
Rohit Sharma (36) and KL Rahul (84) opened the innings with 278 runs in reply.
Oli Robinson took five wickets for Ravindra Jadeja’s 56 runs. The hosts responded strongly in the second innings, with skipper Root scoring 109 and Jaspreet Bumrah 5/64 for 303.
The Virat Kohli-led team needed 209 runs to chase the target and it was 52/1 at the end of the fourth day’s play but the last day’s play was carried away and the game ended in a draw.
Man of the match:
Joe Root
Second Test: India’s victory over Lord’s
Virat Kohli and his team took a crucial lead in the series with a 151-run victory. KL Rahul made his name on the Lord’s Honors Board with a brilliant century and helped the visitors to 364 runs.
James Anderson returned for 5/62 in the first innings. In response, the hosts scored 391 for the second consecutive century, courtesy of the captain in his form.
Root scored 180 and Johnny Bairstow 57 while the Indian fast bowlers prevented them from scoring big.
In the second innings, India declared at 298/8 and challenged England for 272, but the hosts were bowled out for 120. Mohammad Siraj (4/32) and Jaspreet Bumrah (3/33) along with Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma, who took the remaining wickets to give their team a famous victory.
Man of the match:
KL Rahul
Third Test: England beat India
The hosts made a strong comeback in the next match, beating Leeds by an innings and 76 runs to level the series. After the Indians were bowled out for 78 in the first innings, the openers laid the groundwork for a big run for their team.
England’s top order got off to a good start, scoring 432 in reply. Root, who hit his third century of the series with 121 runs, once again made a big impact for his team with the bat.
Behind a huge score of 354, the Indians scored 278 runs and lost the game. Rohit Sharma (59), Cheteshwar Pujara (91) and Virat Kohli (55) hit half-centuries but that was not enough for the visitors.
Olly Robinson was the star of England with the ball as the right-arm fast bowler returned for 5/65 in the third innings.
Man of the match:
Oli Robinson
Fourth Test: India lead 2-1 at the Oval
After being pushed against the wall, the Indians made a strong comeback in the fourth Test and recorded a strong victory at the Oval. The visitors won the match by 157 runs on the strength of Rohit Sharma’s first overseas Test century and took an unbeaten 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series.
In the first innings, captain Kohli and Shardul Thakur’s half-centuries helped India reach 191 as the England bowlers ran out of the visitors’ batting line-up. The hosts took a 99-run lead before being bowled out for 290. England’s Oli Pope (81) and Chris Vokes (50) batted well.
Rohit’s century helped the Indian batsmen react strongly in the next innings and the visitors scored 466 runs with the rest of the top order contributing significantly.
Chasing a huge target of 368 in the final innings, openers Rory Burns (50) and Haseeb Hameed (63) hit half-centuries as the hosts got off to a strong start and scored 100 runs. But after the English opener was out, the floodgates opened and they were on 210. India won the match by 157 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Man of the match:
Rohit Sharma
