India spinner Axar Patel was in a jubilant mood after bowling a wildly turning delivery that sent a bamboozled Jonny Bairstow back to the pavilion on the opening day of the first Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Axar threw his arms in the air and roared after outfoxing the batsman with a delivery that pitched on the middle and turned away from the batsman.
IND vs ENG 1st Test Day 1 – HIGHLIGHTS
Bairstow had put up a good fight against India’s spin onslaught, finishing on 37 after a 61-run partnership with Joe Root, but slumped forward in dismay as the stumps rattled.
“Bairstow took a stance on the fourth wicket to avoid the lbw, so I thought of bowling at the stumps because he did cut a few shots close,” Axar said.
“That was the plan and the one that turned from there was good, and you would have seen my celebration.”
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India’s spin bowlers struck regular blows to hold the tourists to 246 all out, despite an attacking 70 from captain Ben Stokes.
Axar got two to lend able support to senior partners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who both took three apiece.
Ashwin and Jadeja became the most successful bowling pair for India in Tests, with 506 scalps combined in 50 matches, surpassing the legendary duo of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, who took 501 in 54 Tests.
The 30-year-old said he was just trying to complement senior partners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
“I have learned a lot from seniors Ash and Jaddu bhai. I was trying to control the game from my end as they were bowling in partnership. They were taking wickets, so, I was not thinking about taking wickets,” he said.
“I know that if you are playing three spinners then one of them will get a lesser number of overs. They were also telling me what was happening on the wicket and what I should do. It is a privilege to bowl with them,” said Axar.
Riding on Jaiswal’s 70-ball blitz, India closed the opening day at 119 for 1 while replying to England’s first innings total of 246 all out.
“We enjoyed the way Yashasvi was batting and he took on the spinners from the very first over. It was very good to unsettle them early,” said Axar in the post-day press conference.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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