Ollie Pope misses out double hundred, India needs 231 runs to win the 1st Test, IND vs ENG.

In the first Test between India and England in Hyderabad, Ollie Pope showcased remarkable resilience and skill on Day 3, building on his previous performance. He notched up an impressive score of 196, posing a significant challenge to the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team. Despite the pitch slowing down, rendering batting comparatively easier, Pope’s innings remained crucial as any target exceeding 200 could potentially pose difficulties in the fourth innings.

Pope exhibited aggressive batting, particularly with his adept execution of sweep and reverse-sweep shots, unsettling the Indian spinners. Despite facing occasional setbacks with wickets falling at the other end, Pope adeptly maneuvered the scoreboard in England’s favor. Falling just 4 runs short of a double century, Pope’s innings spanned 278 deliveries, punctuated by 21 boundaries. Notably, his performance in stark contrast to his modest 35-run contribution in the first innings, proved instrumental in England’s resurgence, salvaging them from a precarious position. However, his innings concluded with a clean bowled dismissal by Jasprit Bumrah, contributing to England’s second innings total of 420 runs, leaving India with a target of 230 runs to secure a 1-0 lead in the series.

The Indian bowling attack, spearheaded by Bumrah (4 wickets), supported by Ravichandran Ashwin (3 wickets), Ravindra Jadeja (2 wickets), and Axar Patel (1 wicket), displayed commendable sharpness and determination. Despite England conceding a significant 190-run lead, Pope’s individual brilliance steered them away from potential collapse. He formed crucial partnerships with Ben Duckett (47), Ben Foakes (34), Rehan Ahmed (28), and Tom Hartley (34), contributing significantly to England’s second innings total and thwarting India’s hopes of an easy victory.