5 factors that led to India’s 227-run loss to England in 1st Test

England defeated India by 227 runs in the first Test of the four-match series in Chennai on Tuesday. The series is a part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2019-21.

While England batters such as Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Dom Sibley, Jos Buttler and Ollie Pope looked well prepared to face Indian spinners, the hosts had no answers to ENG’s tactics against Spain that let the visitors post 578 runs in the first innings.

The Indian bowlers conceded 45 runs in extras in the first innings, including 20 no balls. Nearly 50% of the no balls were bowled by spinners Shahbaz Nadeem (6) and Ravichandran Ashwin (2).

In the first innings, apart from Pujara, the rest of the top order failed. Even Pujara could not save India in the final innings. Be it spin or swing, any extra movement in the ball has troubled the experienced batting line-up of Kohli, Pujara, and Rahane. It had happened in NZ and was the case in Chennai as well.

India dropped four catches in the first innings, allowing England to pile up 500+ runs and that eventually cost the hosts the game.

Despite being experienced, Rahane has been inconsistent over the years and that has hurt India. After scoring 112 vs AUS in the MCG Test in December, Rahane has struggled, managing scores of 27*, 22, 4, 37, 24, 1 and 0 in his last 7 innings.