ENG vs IND: India register highest score on the first day of a Test match in England

Rishabh Pant’s heroics and Ravindra Jadeja’s composed innings have helped India set a new record in England. On Day One of the postponed fifth Test against England, India ended the proceedings with a score of 338 runs for the loss of seven wickets. This is the highest score for an Indian side on the first day of a Test match in England.

Interestingly, these runs were scored in just 73 overs as the first play session was interrupted by passing showers. The previous highest score was 324 runs for the loss of four wickets at the Oval back in 1990.

Pant played a knock for the ages, giving the opposition a taste of their own medicine. However, whilst Pant continued with his counter-attacking cricket, Jadeja provided the perfect support to his batting partner. Pant smashed 146 runs off 111 balls, batting at a strike rate of over 130. Jadeja remains unbeaten on 83 runs and will look to register his third Test century on Day 2. 

India were thoroughly on the back foot early on in the day. James Anderson's stamina had reduced India to five wickets for just 98 runs. However, that did not deter Pant from playing his natural game and taking on the English bowlers. Pant and Jadeja put on a 222-run stand for the sixth wicket before Joe Root dismissed the former.

Pant was all over the in-form English spinner, Jack Leach. The southpaw collected 21 runs off a single over against Leach, scoring two boundaries and two sixes each. The spinner ended the day with disappointing figures, conceding 71 runs in 9 overs without a single wicket. 

England got back into the game during the final stretch of the day’s play, picking two wickets in quick succession. After Pant’s dismissal, India lost Shardul Thakur for just one run. Nevertheless, India will be the happier of the two teams at the end of the first day, given the situation they found themselves in at one point in time.