Battered by a challenging pitch, England sees half their lineup crumble in the face of adversity!

In the thrilling onset of the fourth Test in Ranchi, England’s dash for quick runs was met with a swift rebuttal as they lost five crucial wickets in the session. The spotlight shone brightly on debutant pacer Akash Deep, who delivered a performance dreams are made of by dismantling England’s top-order and setting a robust foundation for the hosts.

The Ranchi pitch, a curator’s masterpiece, presented a riveting challenge that kept both the spinners and pacers on their toes, sparking a flurry of LBW appeals and successful reviews, predominantly in India’s favor. Amidst this high-octane drama, England found heroes in Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow, who carved out vital runs on a pitch that seemed eager to unravel.

Akash Deep, before the spin wizards took center stage, was the harbinger of doom for England. With a mix of sharp in-cutters and deceptive deliveries from around the wicket, he sent shockwaves through England’s opening lineup. Ben Duckett succumbed to a catch behind the wicket, while Crawley was undone by a menacing delivery, only after being briefly spared by an overstep. Crawley’s dismissal, after a spirited 42 off just as many balls, along with Ollie Pope’s LBW, left England reeling.

However, Jonny Bairstow rose to the occasion, launching a fierce counterattack that briefly shifted the momentum back in England’s favor. Alongside a vigilant Joe Root, Bairstow stitched together a crucial 52-run partnership until his endeavor to dominate Ashwin led to his downfall, caught LBW upon review. The session’s climax saw Jadeja’s delivery cunningly trap Stokes LBW, leaving analysts and fans pondering the pitch’s potential mischief for the days to come.

This session was not just a display of cricketing skills but a testament to the unpredictability and excitement that Test cricket embodies, setting the stage for what promises to be an enthralling continuation of the Test.