Ben Stokes played a captain’s knock on day one of the first Test between India and England being played in Hyderabad from January 25, 2024, onwards. Stokes had won the toss and chosen that England would bat first.
Openers Zak Crawley (20) and Ben Duckett (35) added 55 runs for the first wicket. Rohit Sharma saw the pitch might aid spin and immediately brought in his ace spinners. Ashwin got into the action soon, removing both the openers, while Jadeja got rid of Ollie Pope.
Then Jonny Bairstow (37) added 61 runs with Joe Root (29) for the 4th wicket, before Akshar Patel removed Bairstow and Jadeja got the better of Root. After their wickets, Ben Stokes took charge at 137/6.
He added valuable runs with Rehan Ahmed (13) and debutant Tom Hartley (23). Stokes was looking to push England’s score past 250, but Jasprit Bumrah had the last laugh after beating him multiple times with his brilliance and change of pace.
Finally, Bumrah got one seam up delivery to pitch on the leg stump and as Stokes moved to the leg side to hit the ball over offside, he was beaten and the ball hit the middle and off-stump to end the England captain’s knock.
Stokes made 70 with 6 fours and 3 sixes as England folded for 246 runs. He smiled and appreciated the brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah, as the bowler smiled back at him during his celebration.
Here is the wicket:
