IND vs ENG: 1st Test – Joe Root, Dom Sibley dominate hosts on opening day

The first day of the opening Test of the four-match series between India and England belonged to the visitors. England, after opting to bat first, managed to end the day on 263/3 thanks to a brilliant partnership between Joe Root and Dom Sibley. With not much help from the pitch, Indian bowlers looked flat and Sibley’s wicket off the last ball of the day cheered them up somewhat. Here are the talking points of the day:

1. Joe Root’s 20th Test ton

Three hundreds in three consecutive Tests for Joe Root, in 2021:

? 228 v Sri Lanka
? 186 v Sri Lanka
? 100* v India (today) pic.twitter.com/pVEy0s8qSD

— ICC (@ICC) February 5, 2021

Joe Root is in some form on this tour to the sub-continent. After his twin tons in Sri Lanka, he continued his rich vein of form in India too smashing an unbeaten 128 by the end of the day. He came in when England were 63/2 and then batted through the day putting his team in a position of strength. His footwork against the spinners has looked assured and hasn’t given an inch to the opposition. He will be hoping to play a big knock on the second day.

2. Sibley’s resolute defence

Dom Sibley struggled a lot in Sri Lanka but the man worked hard ahead of the India series and it paid off in Chennai on Day 1. Along with Root, he kept India at bay and despite looking uncomfortable at one stage, he grinded it out and churned out runs whenever loose deliveries were on offer. Bumrah outsmarted him with a yorker in the last over of the day but his 87-run knock off 286 balls has given England a headstart to post a huge first-innings total.

3. Kohli’s sportsmanship

Joe Root played an absolutely sublime knock on a hot and humid day at the Chepauk. After playing for almost two sessions, understandably, he got cramps and wasn’t able to stand at the fag end of the day. He sat down on the ground and was in considerable pain and this is when the India skipper Virat Kohli helped him showing great sportsmanship spirit. He was lauded by Root for the same as well after the end of day’s play.