Michael Vaughan touts India to win the opening Test at Edgbaston

The first Test between England and India has been a roller coaster ride thus far. On the first day, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow scored half-centuries to put the visiting team on the mat, but some late strikes from Ravichandran Ashwin brought India back to the game. England’s lower middle-order couldn’t perform and eventually, they slumped to 287 runs in 89.4 overs.

India started well with a half-century stand between Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan, however, Sam Curran and Ben Stokes nipped out some quick wickets to set the cat amongst the pigeons in the opponent’s dugout. At the other end, Virat Kohli didn’t allow the flurry of wickets to unnerve him. Rather he buckled down to bail his team out of the unwanted loop.

India still with a chance on Day four

At one phase, the home team lost eight wickets and were more than 100 runs short of England’s first innings score. He went on to score his 22nd Test century and eventually scored 149 runs from 225 deliveries. The Brits, in their second innings, lost wickets in heaps, but a whirlwind half-century from Sam Curran helped the hosts put forth a target of 194.

India lost five wickets in their run chase and are still 84 runs adrift of their maiden win in their seventh Test match at the venue. The top order faltered, however, the Indian skipper showed some grit and is currently not out on 43 runs. Dinesh Karthik, who perished for a four-ball duck in the first innings, scorched a couple of boundaries to score 18 runs.

Meanwhile, Michael Vaughan, the former England cricketer, reckons that India are slightly ahead in the match and also hailed the quality of the encounter over the last three days. “Whatever the outcome in the morning I have loved this Test Match … The Pitch & conditions have made it … India slight favourites IMO #ENGvIND”

Here is Vaughan’s tweet

Whatever the outcome in the morning I have loved this Test Match … The Pitch & conditions have made it … India slight favourites IMO #ENGvIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 3, 2018

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