India vs England, 2023-24: Three Reasons why India lost against England in Hyderabad.
Even after dominating the Hyderabad test against England for three days, Team India faced a 28-run defeat on day four of the opening test at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Opinions vary on whether test cricket triumphed or if India lacked a strategic plan. The undeniable truth, however, is that England emerged as the superior team, equipped with a more effective strategy to counter every plan put up by Rohit Sharma and Co.
Let’s analyse what went wrong for the home side.
England had better plans
England strategically crafted their game plan in Abu Dhabi ahead of the Test series against India. Their meticulous preparation involved a ten-day training camp in the UAE, which even led them to arrive three days before the inaugural Test in Hyderabad. The intensive camp was characterized by the Three Lions immersing themselves in simulated match scenarios, specifically tailored to tackle the probing Indian spin attack. These practice sessions were done on spin-friendly pitches at the Sheikh Zayed Sports Hub, designed to mimic the anticipated challenges.
The results were obvious. As the English players graced the field, their match readiness was palpable, contrasting sharply with the Indian team's apparent lack of discipline across all facets of the game. Captain Ben Stokes, displaying bold decision-making, opted for just one pacer in the playing XI. England's offensive approach against the Indian spinners was centred around the calculated use of the sweep and reverse sweep, a familiar tactic in their cricketing history.
The player of the match, Ollie Pope, in his 196 runs innings used sweep and reverse sweep like a simple daily shot which went uncracked by the Indian spinners. None of the Indian spin wizards including R Ashwin, R Jadeja and Axar Patel looked to have a rock-solid plan against England’s bazball.
Read More: IND vs ENG, 2024: With Jadeja & Rahul ruled out, how will India shape up in Visakhapatnam Test
Unstable Indian batting
The instability in the middle-order batting was a prominent aspect of both teams' performances during the Test match. Although the opening partnerships on either side managed to fulfil their roles, the middle order struggled to establish stability, leading to a significant impact on the overall outcome. While both lower orders exhibited resilience and frustrated the opposing teams, a pivotal distinction emerged through the ability of one English batter to anchor lengthy innings—an accomplishment that none of the Indian counterparts could replicate.
However, KL Rahul played a commendable knock with a stylish 86 in the first innings, yet the highest scores from Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer were limited to 35 runs each. The Indian team faced setbacks, losing 3 wickets for 100 runs in the first innings and 4 wickets for 65 runs in the second.
Statistical analysis reveals Rahul's impressive average of 41 in India, with Shreyas and Gill averaging 37 and 29, respectively. Despite the early stage of their careers, the emergence of prolific run-scorers like Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan in domestic cricket hints at the possibility of exploring alternative options for the positions held by Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Read More: IND vs ENG, 2024: Hartley’s spin, Pope’s courage - How England overcame the Hyderabad Challenge
Dull bowling in the fourth innings
In the bowling department, the Indian spinners struggled to execute a well-thought-out strategy against the aggressive English batters, especially in the fourth innings. Their inconsistency and inclination towards quicker deliveries and varied variations played into the hands of the opposition. Joe Root and Hartley from the English side showed that simplicity in approach, focusing on a stump-to-stump line, which proved effective in disorienting the Indian batters.
The Indian spinners bowled at speeds ranging from late 80 to early 90 kmph, while their English counterparts bowled in the late 70 to early 80 kmph range, thereby gaining more spin and grip from the pitch. The statistics reveal the Indian spinners conceding 3.81 and 4.11 runs per over in the two innings, highlighting their inability to control the English batters and providing them the freedom to maintain their aggressive batting approach.
Axar Patel, popularly known as Bapu, dropped the catch of Ollie Pope, which was not the sole reason, but was one of the major reasons leading to India’s defeat. Although considered a cliché, the relevance of catches persists in every cricket match. Patel's crucial dropped catch of Pope at 110, with the score at 257 for five, became a turning point. Pope and Ben Foakes were then at a 94-run partnership for the sixth wicket, with England only 67 runs ahead. A wicket then could have stalled England's progress, potentially lowering the target for India. After the drop catch, Pope went on to add another 86 runs and took the game away from India.
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