India’s young batters stepped up to the challenge on the opening day of the Manchester Test, putting up a spirited show against a probing England attack under tough conditions.
At stumps on Day 1, the visitors finished at 264 for 4, a score that reflected grit and adaptability, especially after being put in to bat under overcast skies.
Sanjay Manjrekar, the former India cricketer, took to social media to praise the new generation of Indian batters. He noted how this emerging group, taking charge in the post-Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli era, is learning to thrive in difficult English conditions. “We can do this in overcast, cold, typical English conditions, too! That’s what this Indian batting lineup is showing all of us! Another proud day for Indian cricket,” wrote Manjrekar on X.
India began positively with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal providing a solid opening stand. Rahul narrowly missed out on a well-deserved fifty, while Jaiswal once again showed class with a half-century before falling soon after. Sai Sudharsan, back in the side in place of Karun Nair, started nervously. England’s bowlers targeted his previous weakness – the leg-side dismissal from Leeds – but the youngster showed resilience. He fought his way to a confident 61, helping stabilise the innings after two quick blows.
However, a major setback struck late in the day when after being struck on the foot by a Chris Woakes yorker. The extent of his injury is yet to be determined, but the visuals showed immediate swelling and a visible cut. His exit added to India’s growing injury concerns, with Akash Deep and Nitish Kumar Reddy already missing this Test due to fitness issues.
Despite ,refusing to let the situation get the better of them. With the series at 2-1 in England’s favour, the visitors know they have little room for error. But much like the iconic Australia tour in 2020-21, there is a quiet belief growing in this group that they can push back when their backs are against the wall.