Twitter Reactions: Indian batsmen gasp for breath as England bag a massive win at Chepauk
Virat Kohli scored an impressive 72 but no other batsman apart from Gill could stick around.
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A lot was said about England not showing intent and declaring early in the second innings. Many felt the visitors were scared as India would chase down the total. But as it happened on the fifth day, England comfortably managed to skittle the home side with a lot of overs in hand and go 1-0 up in the series. James Anderson put up a special performance in the morning after which the rest of the bowlers also put their hand up to seal a memorable win.
India resumed the day with 381 runs adrift of the target but it was all about playing out 90 overs to save the Test. The fans and experts were hoping for the team to repeat their heroics from Sydney and Brisbane. But the pitch had certainly deteriorated a lot and it proved to be an uphill task for India. Cheteshwar Pujara was the first to go as Jack Leach’s delivery spit from a good length ball to catch the bat’s edge and rest in the hands of the slip fielder.
Shubman Gill was adventurous in his approach going for runs and it looked while he lasted scoring an impressive half-century. James Anderson castled him with a beautiful reverse swinging delivery and followed it up with yet another ripper to send Ajinkya Rahane’s off-stump for a walk in the same over. Soon Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar followed as India collapsed from 92/2 to 117/6 dumping all the hopes of a draw.
Virat Kohli flights alone with a 72-run knock
At the other end, Virat Kohli was going strong even as the wickets tumbled around him. Whenever England’s spinners faltered in their lines, he took the toll of them hitting boundaries and in the process, got to his 27th half-century as well. After wickets fell in a heap, he stitched a decent partnership with Ravi Ashwin to keep England at bay but the duo delayed only the inevitable.
Ashwin got out edging one behind off Jack Leach while Kohli got a low grubber from Ben Stokes as India were soon bundled out for 192 runs losing the game by 227 runs. The Indian skipper scored 72 runs off 104 balls hitting nine fours but none of the other batsmen stuck it out with him making the task even tougher and close to impossible.
For England, James Anderson picked three wickets while Leach recovered from the innings hammering to scalp four with Jofra Archer, Stokes and Bess accounting for one each. This is a massive win for England and now India will have to do all the running in the series to keep themselves alive in the World Test Championship.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
One over from the legend #jimmyanderson killed our chances for a draw. Congratulations @englandcricket #INDvENG
— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) February 9, 2021
Planning , execution and beyond !! Well fought test win and a well deserved one !! Special & a big win , Well done Joe root 👍 and the entire English team #INDvsENG #1st Test
— Mithun Manhas (@MithunManhas) February 9, 2021
Well played England. Congratulations on doing the unthinkable. Never easy to beat India in India. Especially, this Indian team. But, beware there are 3 more matches to go, and expect a big fightback from India. #EngvsInd #ENGvIND
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) February 9, 2021
Incredible performance from @Englanddcricket @root66 @jimmy9 et al……well worth climbing out of bed for! 👏👏🥂
— Alan Butcher (@abutch58) February 9, 2021
Don't lose heart Indian fans.
Last time India lost first test of a series, they won the series.
Last time India lost first test of a home series, they won the series 😉#INDvsENG— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 9, 2021
Congrats @root66 .. 26th Test win as skipper .. that’s 52 Test wins for @SheffieldColCC now 👍👍👍👍
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 9, 2021
Credit where credit is due. Not many overseas teams come to India and dominate majority of the test. Many congratulations to @ECB_cricket @root66 and the boys on a famous win. Surely will go down as one of England's best ever wins. #INDvsENG
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 9, 2021
To hammer India in India is an incredible performance … 227 run victory … This team are onto something potentially very special this year … #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 9, 2021
Memorable performance from England; took advantage of a good toss with a masterful innings from Joe Root and then applied pressure with a balanced and varied attack until India cracked. A great win. #chennai
— Mike atherton (@Athersmike) February 9, 2021
What a test match!! Well done boys @englandcricket!! Awesome to watch! Another great team performance!! #INDvENG 👌🙌🏴
— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) February 9, 2021
One of the great Test Match wins for @englandcricket in India!! From winning the Toss they completely bossed the game. Big 1st innings runs, tactics spot on & top class bowling from the @jimmy9 and spinners!! Near perfect & a dream start to the series for England!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) February 9, 2021
I don't know what the numbers say; but winning Test matches in Asia these days for visiting teams isn't simple. England have now won three in a row. That is phenomenal preparation and execution.
— Ian bishop (@irbishi) February 9, 2021
Why to play on such a wicket where winning the toss becomes vital and that too when a team has had a brilliant last series !! Just a thought #INDvsENG #ChennaiTest
— Mithun Manhas (@MithunManhas) February 9, 2021
I really hope @josbuttler stays for at least the 2nd Test … after such a wonderful team performance surely England would want to keep this group together … Miss the ODIs & T20s … Winning a Test series in India will mean so much more … #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 9, 2021
Love @jackleach1991 !! His character is immense .. He maximises every ounce of his ability .. he has been tremendous in this game after the initial onslaught from Pant .. !!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 9, 2021
India haven’t been good at all but it’s been because England haven’t allowed them to be … Winning the toss is big but winning it and using it like England have is the match winner … btw this is going to be Virats 4th consecutive loss as a Test captain !! #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 9, 2021
"Thought Rishabh Pant was playing in the IPL". – Jack Leach.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 9, 2021
A huge win over India in the first Test has propelled England to the top of the ICC World Test Championship standings 👀#WTC21 pic.twitter.com/8AaC8XMrjr
— ICC (@ICC) February 9, 2021
Joe Root as captain in Asia in Tests:
Beat SL in SL.
Beat SL in SL.
Beat SL in SL.
Beat SL in SL.
Beat SL in SL.
Beat IND in IND.— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 9, 2021
Congratulations on this magnificent win to England. The senior players did a lot of the heavy lifting. @root66 and @jimmy9 led by example. Sets up the rest of the series rather nicely. #INDvENG @StarSportsIndia
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 9, 2021
Great performances from Root, Bess, Anderson & Leach! England deserved to win this one.
Feels like deja vu, but hoping for a stronger comeback from Team India #INDvENG— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349) February 9, 2021
Good start @englandcricket 👏🏻#INDvENG
— Paul Collingwood (@Colly622) February 9, 2021
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