England vs India: Virender Sehwag reckons Joe Root's dismissal was the turning point of the first day's play

The first Test between England and India got underway yesterday at Edgbaston in Birmingham. At the close of play, the visiting team seemed to have the upper hand as Joe Root and Co finished with 285/9 in 88 overs. The Three Lions won the toss and had no double thoughts about batting first. Left-hander pair of Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings made a steady start.

However, Ravichandran Ashwin castled Cook in his second over to draw first blood. Jennings and Root built a partnership of 72 runs to guide the Brits to the ascendancy. But Mohammed Shami pinned Jennings and Dawid Malan in quick succession to bring India back into the match. Jonny Bairstow and Root took charge thereafter and creamed the Indian bowling without much fuss.

They put on a stand of 104 runs and threatened to take the match away from the home team. However, a superlative throw from Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, accounted for Root’s wicket. The dismissal panned out to be crucial in the context of the day’s play as England lost wickets in heaps. Bairstow followed suit and Jos Buttler couldn’t open his account, much to England’s agony.

Root’s dismissal- the vital moment

Ben Stokes buckled down to play out the rest of the day, but Ashwin dismissed him. The Tamil Nadu-born tweaker finished with four wickets and was undoubtedly India’s standout bowler of the day. Sam Curran displayed grit and determination and scored 24 runs from 67 balls to ensure that the Poms don’t get bowled out on the first day itself.

Adil Rashid and Stuart Broad also couldn’t put up a fight with the willow. Meanwhile, Virender Sehwag, the former Indian cricketer, believes that Root’s run out was a crucial moment. He also wished for India to dictate terms and put up a decent show with the willow.

He took to Twitter and wrote, “A very good beginning to the test series for India. Ashwin bowled beautifully and so did Shami and that brilliant run out of Root by Kohli was the turning point of the day. From 216-3, Eng 285-9. May we carry the momentum with the bat tomorrow and dominate England #ENGvIND”

Here is Sehwag’s tweet

A very good beginning to the test series for India. Ashwin bowled beautifully and so did Shami and that brilliant run out of Root by Kohli was the turning point of the day. From 216-3, Eng 285-9. May we carry the momentum with the bat tomorrow and dominate England #ENGvIND

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 1, 2018

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