England turned the tables on what appeared to be an inevitable outcome during Days 3 and 4 of the initial Test against India. This transformation was primarily fueled by Ollie Pope’s exceptional innings of 196 in Hyderabad, propelling the visitors to set a challenging target of 231 for the hosts.
Pope showcased remarkable dominance over the formidable spin trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel on a challenging pitch, a feat rarely achieved by other batsmen in the past decade.
Taking the crease on Sunday with an overnight score of 148, Pope continued to build on his formidable innings. In the 81st over, when Ashwin initiated his first spell of the day, the seasoned bowler, realizing Pope’s resilience, resorted to unconventional tactics to secure the crucial wicket.
Ashwin began the over with a harmless delivery down the leg side, enticing Pope to leave it untouched. Following this, the off-spinner executed an eccentric run-up, lifting both legs alternatively to his hamstring in a peculiar manner, resembling a quirky blend of a penguin and a kangaroo. Pausing momentarily before delivering a slightly quicker and straighter ball, Ashwin aimed to catch Pope off guard.
— Jas Pope (@jas_pope93438) January 28, 2024
Despite Ashwin’s unorthodox approach, Pope remained unfazed, confidently dispatching the ball. However, his innings eventually came to an end, falling prey to Jasprit Bumrah 17 overs later. This wicket marked a critical moment for the visitors, as they sought a final push to secure victory after losing nine wickets in the innings.
