India have made cricketing history today by fielding five left-handed batsmen in their playing XI for the first time ever in a Test match.
This milestone took place during the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, marking a historic moment in India’s 93-year and 592-match Test legacy.
This left-handed dominance in the lineup signifies a clear strategic shift by the Indian team to counter the English bowling attack and optimize match conditions. Notably, this is the first time India has fielded more than four lefties in a Test XI, highlighting the uniqueness of this selection.
India made three changes to their squad ahead of this Test, including the return of Sai Sudharsan, the debut of young pacer Anshul Kamboj, and the inclusion of Shardul Thakur to cover for an injury to Nitish Reddy.
IND vs ENG: Who are the Five Southpaws for India?
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – An explosive opener known for his bold stroke play, already making headlines in his debut series.
- Sai Sudharsan – Making a return to the lineup, he adds stability and flair at the top order.
- Rishabh Pant – The star wicketkeeper-batsman, freshly recovered from injury, brings energy and aggression in the middle.
- Ravindra Jadeja – The veteran all-rounder offering balance and resilience in both batting and bowling.
- Washington Sundar – Another all-rounder who contributes significantly with the bat in lower-middle order positions.
It was a decent start for India in the first innings after they were put into bat by England. KL Rahul and Yashashvi Jaiswal added 94 runs for first wicket. The latter scored a decent 58 as well. But after Lunch, the visitors have lost three quick wickets and now are 140 for 3 with Rishabh Pant and Sai Sudharsan at the crease.