Team India's young sensational spinner Axar Patel-led (4/68) lethal Indian bowling attack rattled the England batters to restrict them to just 205 runs on Day 1 of the India vs England fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday. In reply to England's first innings total, India lost an early wicket in form of Shubman Gill (8) but still are in a strong position with Cheteshwar Pujara (15) and Rohit Sharma batting on crease as the duo will look to bat for as long as possible. At Stumps on Day 1, India are 24 for 1 and trail by 181 runs.
India captain Virat Kohli rotated bowlers well to not allow England batsmen settle. India bowlers continued to strike at regular intervals to keep the visitors under pressure.
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England could not recover after a poor start and got bowled out on Day 1 itself. Left-arm spinner Akshar bowled brilliantly to take four wickets for 68 runs.
For England, Ben Stokes scored the highest 55 off 121 balls with six fours and two sixes. Daniel Lawrence scored 46, Oli Pope 29 and Jonny Bairstow 28, while James Anderson remained unbeaten on 10.
Ravichandran Ashwin too seemed in good form as he took three wickets for 47 runs, Mohammad Siraj took two wickets for 45 runs and Washington Sundar picked one wicket for 14. Veteran Ishant Sharma failed to get any wicket.
England captain Joe Root's decision to win the toss and bat first was again proved wrong. England's openers failed to get a good start for the team. Root, too, got out early, and England lost three wickets for just 30 runs.
Lawrence, who was returning to Test squad after being dropped in the previous match, scored 45 runs. Apart from Stokes and Lawrence, rest of England batsmen could not do much against the spin dup of Axar and Ashwin. Akshar Patel, who is playing his third Test in the series, has taken 22 wickets so far.