India vs England, 5th Test, day 1: Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja helped India to reach 338/7 on the first day of the season.

Rishabh Pant hit his fifth Test century off only 89 deliveries to lead India’s circle back in the rescheduled fifth Test in Birmingham. Pant broke MS Dhoni’s record for the quickest century by an Indian wicketkeeper-hitter.

India came to 338/7 at stumps on Day 1

Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer fell in quick succession in second succession, leaving India reeling at 98 for five. Pant then, at that point, teamed up with Ravindra Jadeja as the two left-handed players assisted India with recovering from blows and crossed the 300-run mark. 

The two put on a double century stand, assisting India with gaining firm control at Edgbaston. Prior, India were 53/2 at lunch, which was taken ahead of schedule because of an expected drizzle. Shubman Gill fell right on time to James Anderson after England commander Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to field. 

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The veteran seamer struck again to eliminate Cheteshwar Pujara, who nicked it to Zak Crawley in the slips. Kohli joined Vihari before the rain stopped the opening session. 

Led by Jasprit Bumrah, India went with Pujara at the top alongside young Gill, while Shardul Thakur made it to the eleven instead of off-spinner Ashwin. Anderson replaced Jamie Overton in the England group.

Virat Kohli endured one more disappointment as he was out for 11 in the second session. However, it was Pant who rebuilt the Indian innings, hitting 20 fours and four sixes on the way to 146. It was a hundred of rare belligerence with a combination of boldness and responsibility! Pant came in at No. 5 ahead of Shreyas Iyer and made an exceptionally impressive case to enter the eleven as a pure batter too!

Pant scored 146 off 111 at a strike rate of over 131, while Jadeja played the perfect second fiddle, hitting unbeaten 83 off 163 balls. Who might have thought India reached at 338 after early blows!