Last Five 50-Plus Opening Partnerships For India In Tests In England
Published - 13 Aug 2021, 07:34 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:51 AM
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KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma have stood to all expectations in the ongoing Test series against England. The duo has managed to give great starts to the Men in Blue thus far and has set the foundation for respectable scores. Opening the batting in England conditions is one of the toughest asks for a batsman. One should have assured footwork and knows how to leave the balls by judging the line and lengths accurately.
KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma, on Thursday, didn’t put a foot wrong and stitched a hundred-run partnership to help the national cricket team end the day on top. The duo put on a 126-run stand for the opening wicket before Rohit was castled by a peach of a delivery from James Anderson. This was India’s first hundred-run partnership for the opening wicket outside of Asia since 2011.
There aren’t a lot of hundred-run opening partnerships by Indian batsmen in England, though, in recent times, they managed to put on numerous fifty-plus stands. Here’s a look at the last five 50-plus opening partnerships for India in Tests in England:
Last five 50-plus opening partnerships for India in Tests in England:
Shikhar Dhawan-KL Rahul- 60 runs against England in 2018
The visitors lost the first two Tests of the five-match Test series in England in 2018. India needed a win in the third Test to stay alive in the series. The visitors batted first in the third Test and Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul opened the innings for the team. The duo ensured that India doesn’t lose early wickets and get off to a great start.
Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul added 60 runs for the opening wicket before Woakes sent Dhawan back to the pavilion. Dhawan added 35 runs in the partnership. The visitors eventually scored 329 runs in that innings and also won the game by a massive 203 runs.
Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul- 60 run against England in 2018
In the same Test mentioned above, Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul added 60 runs for the opening wicket in the second innings as well. After India notched 329 runs in the first innings, Virat Kohli and Co. bundled England out for just 161 runs.
In the third innings, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan denied England of early wickets and put on another 60-run partnership and thereby helped India strengthen the lead. Virat Kohli scored a hundred in the third innings and India declared their innings at 352 for 7 and set a target of 521 runs. England managed 317 runs in the fourth innings but still fell short of 203 runs.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill – 62 runs against New Zealand in the World Test Championship
The inaugural edition of the World Test Championship final took place at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Southampton. Throughout their WTC campaign, India were at the top of their game and dominated the opposition. However, they succumbed to some terrific bowling from Kiwis in the overcast conditions in England.
Though, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a solid start in the first innings. The duo added 62 runs for the opening wicket and denied New Zealand a wicket till the first 20 overs. Rohit Sharma was the first one to depart after making 34 off 68 balls.
Wickets fell in quick succession after that and India were bundled out for 217 runs in the first innings. In the end, New Zealand registered a comfortable 8-wicket win in the final to claim the WTC title.
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul – 97 runs against England in 2021
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are two of the biggest reasons why India have been dominating the ongoing Test series between India and England. The likes of Anderson, Broad, and Robinson have failed to fetch England early wickets, thanks to solid opening partnerships between KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma.
After India bundled out England for just 183 runs in the first innings, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul gave India the start that they were looking for. The duo stitched a 97-run opening partnership, setting the foundation for a big score. The duo played cautiously throughout the passage of play and ensured they sent the bad balls to boundary ropes.
Rohit Sharma made 36 runs in that innings, while KL Rahul 84 scored 84 runs off 214 balls. India dominated all four days and looked on course to win the Test on Day 5 but the rain had other plans. The first Test eventually ended in a draw.
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul- 126 against England in 2021
India’s new Test openers, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul continued their fine run in the same vein in the second Test. India has currently the upper hand over England in the ongoing second Test, thanks to some stellar batting display from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.
The duo judged the line and lengths brilliantly and played the balls on their merit. There were hardly any bad balls bowled by England but Rohit and KL Rahul stayed calm and didn’t take any risk during the initial part of the innings.
India made only 14 runs in the first 12 overs. But then came an over in which Rohit smashed four fours in a row to Sam Curran. Rohit went onto score 83 runs off 145 balls, while KL Rahul played as a second fiddle till the time the former was at the crease.
The duo stitched a 126-run partnership for the opening wicket and got India off to a perfect start.
