Subhradeep
- Mar 7
- 4 min read

IND vs ENG, 5th Test, Day 1: Kuldeep 5-72 stunts England to 218, India 135 -1 in response

India vs England, 5th Test, Day 1: Kuldeep Yadav's 5-72 stunts England to 218, India 135 -1 in response. Session-wise highlights of Day 1, Dharamsala test.

India vs England, 5th Test, Day 1: Kuldeep Yadav took 5-72 in Dharamshala test | Walking Wicket (Images_ ©BCCI_Twitter) — India vs England: Kuldeep Yadav took 5-72 in Dharamshala test (Images: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Brief Scores: IND 135/1 (Jaiswal 57, Rohit 52*, Bashir 1/64) trails ENG 218 (Crawley 79, Kuldeep 5/72, Ashwin 4/51) by 83 runs at Stumps on Day 1.

India did a great job with the ball, by destroying England for just 218 in their first innings. Their 104-run opening partnership promoted them to 135/1 at the end of the day, to reduce the deficit to just 83 runs.

India came into this encounter earning their 12th Test series victory over England with an unassailable lead of 3-1. England looked to finish on a positive note. Both teams met for the first day of the fifth and final Test of the series at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala.

Talking point: Kuldeep turned things on its head with 5/72

England was in a solid position when Kuldeep Yadav drew the first blood to break the 64-run opening stand. The Chinaman bowler dropped a top show, asking regular questions to the England batters. England were 137/2, before they suddenly slipped to 183/8, and eventually got bundled out for 218. Kuldeep showed variations and smartness to vary his length to trouble the batters with figures of 5/72.

England opted to bat; Padikkal made his Test debut

England captain Ben Stokes, on winning the toss, opted to bat first on a pitch that looked an absolute belter with an excellent outfield. Devdutt Padikkal made his Test debut for the hosts. Mark Wood returned to England as Johnny Bairstow and Ravichandran Ashwin featured in their 100th Test for their respective sides.

Kuldeep kept England in check after Crawley’s fifty; visitors went to lunch at 100/2

Both England openers, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, faced some early troubles against India’s new ball bowlers. Jasprit Bumrah particularly made life tough for Duckett as the ball went past his bat on multiple occasions. Few edges gave them some lucky boundaries as they did well for their 64-run opening stand.

Kuldeep Yadav drew the first blood sending back Duckett (27), who looked to whack the googly on the leg side. Shubman Gill, running backwards, leapt forward to grab an excellent catch. With a boundary, Crawley celebrated his 14th Test fifty, drilling Ashwin over long-on for a six.

However, on the stroke of lunch, Kuldeep provided India with the prized wicket of Ollie Pope (11), who was down the track in a flash. The googly ripped past his outside edge to offer the wicket-keeper ample time to complete an easy stumping. England went to the break at 100/2.

India vs England, 5th Test, Day 1_ ravichandran ashwin took 4-51 in his 100th test match Walking Wicket (Images_ ©BCCI_Twitter) — Ravichandran Ashwin took 4-51 in his 100th test (Images: ©BCCI/Twitter)

England derailed by Kuldeep’s magical 5/72; visitors slipped to 194/8

England started the session decently as Crawley and Joe Root were moving the scorecards with singles and doubles. But Kuldeep broke the good-looking partnership with the dismissal of Crawley (79). The ball pitched on the off-stump drifted in and hit Crawley’s leg stump. Baistow cracked a few big shots before Kuldeep drew him into a drive and finding the edge.

On the very next over, Ravindra Jadeja trapped Root (26) plumb before the stumps. Soon, Kuldeep darted the wrong one from outside off and it was a dead duck the moment Stokes (0) missed it. Tom Hartley (6), in an aim to whack Ashwin, found the deep mid-wicket fielder. Mark Wood’s hard hand found the lone slip fielder.

From 137/2, England suddenly slipped to 183/8. They went to Tea at 194/8.

Ashwin’s 4/51 destroyed England for 218

Ben Foakes looked to show some intent after the break as he smashed a few boundaries. Ashwin sent him back soon. James Anderson too looked to whack the ball and found the mid-wicket fielder. England were bundled out for just 218, as Ravichandran Ashwin finished with 4/51.

India reached 135/1 at Stump's, hosts trail by 83 runs

Both India openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal looked in a positive mindset. They weathered the storm in the first half hour against the swinging deliveries. Rohit pulled Mark Wood for a beautiful six, while Jaiswal smacked Shoaib Bashir for three consecutive sixes.

With a boundary through sweeper cover, Jaiswal celebrated his fourth Test fifty. After another boundary, he found himself short of the crease to end the 104-run opening stand. Rohit too notched up his 18th Test fifty with a single. Shubman Gil smashed a six on the second last ball of the day as India finished on 135/1, trailing by 83 runs on Day 1.

What’s to come

India will look to put up a huge score on the board in the first innings to put England out of the contest. The visitors need some quick wickets early on. The second day may draw the scoreline of the series.

Statistical highlights from India vs England, 5th Test, Day 1

Crawley and Duckett now have scored the third most runs (443) as an opening duo for England in India.
Crawley and Duckett also now have the joint-second most (5) fifty-plus opening stands in a Test series for England.
Jadeja now has dismissed Root for the eighth time in Tests.
Jaiswal now has the most Test runs (712) for India in a home Test series against England.
In terms of balls, Kuldeep becomes the quickest to take 50 Test wickets in 1871 balls for India.
Jaiswal’s 26 sixes against England is the most for an India batter with the most Test sixes against a Team.
Jaiswal becomes the second fastest (16 innings) India batter to reach 1000 Test runs after Vinod Kambli (14 innings).