Spin twins dominate as India rolls over England for 218 on Ist day of Dharamsala test

Kuldeep Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin combined to dismantle England’s batting lineup, capturing nine crucial wickets on the opening day of the fifth Test at Dharamsala.

England, opting to bat first, crumbled from a promising 175-3, succumbing to the relentless spin duo’s brilliance.

Zak Crawley, the backbone of England’s innings with a resilient 79, faced a barrage of spin wizardry before falling prey to Yadav’s deceptive delivery that turned sharply, crashing into the stumps.

Ashwin, in his milestone 100th Test, played a pivotal role by breaking the resistance of Ben Foakes and sealing the innings with finesse.

Kuldeep Yadav, showcasing his left-arm wrist spin prowess, celebrated his 50th Test wicket with exceptional figures of 5-72, leaving the English batsmen bewildered.

Jonny Bairstow, marking his 100th Test, put up a spirited effort, but fell victim to Yadav’s crafty googly, edging it into the wicketkeeper’s gloves after a brief cameo with two sixes.

Ravindra Jadeja joined the party, dismissing former captain Joe Root for 26, who burned England’s final review.

Ben Stokes, leading the English side, faced a review-induced lbw decision, securing Yadav’s fifth wicket with confirmation that the ball would hit leg stump.

Earlier in the day, Crawley and Ben Duckett formed a promising partnership, but Yadav’s brilliance struck first with Duckett’s dismissal. Ollie Pope fell prey to Yadav’s guile just before lunch.

With this commanding performance, India, led by Rohit Sharma, has established a dominant position, having already secured an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the series after a setback in the opening Test.