Watch- Ollie Pope grabs a brilliant catch as Rohit Sharma becomes Shoaib Bashir's first wicket in Test Cricket

England vice-captain Ollie Pope took a smart catch to dismiss India’s skipper Rohit Sharma in the first innings of the second Test match. Rohit Sharma failed to lead the team from the front with the bat as he was dismissed for just 14 runs off debutant Shoaib Bashir.

Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma gave a solid start after opting to bat first in Visakhapatnam on Friday, February 2. The duo added a 40-run partnership for the first wicket in 17.3 overs. However, Bashir managed to provide a breakthrough for his team.

Ollie Pope Grabs Brilliant Catch To Dismiss Rohit Sharma

In the 18th over of India’s first innings, Shoaib Bashir surprised Rohit Sharma with a sharp turn, resulting in an inside edge. Ollie Pope made a brilliant catch at the leg slip position. Bashir secured his maiden Test wicket in the opening session of the ongoing match.

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Rohit Sharma adopted an overly cautious approach during his innings, opting for a defensive style contrary to his natural game. The 36-year-old, unable to find his rhythm throughout his stay at the crease, departed after scoring just 14 runs without hitting a boundary.

Earlier, the Indian team made three changes to their playing XI from the previous Test match. Rajat Patidar received his maiden Test cap, replacing injured KL Rahul in the lineup. Kuldeep Yadav and Mukesh Kumar returned to the team for the match against England.

India vs England Playing XI

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer, Srikar Bharat(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mukesh Kumar

The Rohit Sharma-led team started the five-match series with a loss, suffering a 28-run defeat in the first Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The home team was bundled out for just 202 while chasing a target of 231 in the final innings.

The Men in Blue bowled out the England team for just 246 runs in the first innings. They posted a formidable total of 436, taking a substantial 190-run lead in the first innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal (80), KL Rahul (86), and Ravindra Jadeja (87) made valuable contributions.

The visiting team managed to score 420 runs in their second innings with the help of Ollie Pope’s 196-run knock. The English bowlers troubled the Indian batters on a spin-friendly track. Tom Hartley ran through India’s lineup, taking seven wickets for 62 runs in 26.2 overs.

It’s worth mentioning that the Indian team lost the first Test in their previous home series against England in 2021. However, they bounced back to clinch the four-match series 1-1. The India team remained unbeaten in their last 16 Test series on their home soil.

Also read: Watch: Ollie Pope receives standing ovation from crowd following remarkable century in 1st IND vs ENG Test