England dominate rain hit 1st day at Oval , Karun keeps India in the hunt

 

The game was interrupted multiple times due to rain, yet despite the looming threat of showers, play progressed on the first day at The Oval. On a lively green-top pitch and against a fiery England bowling attack, the Indian batters showed remarkable resilience. Whether this fightback proves crucial will be determined on Day 2. If England’s batters also tumble quickly, this gritty resistance could become a deciding factor in what’s shaping up to be a low-scoring contest. And at the heart of this battle stood Karun Nair — a man whose future in Test cricket may very well hinge on this very match.

England skipper Ollie Pope won the toss and chose to bowl. India suffered an early blow when opener Yashasvi Jaiswal fell in just the fourth over. KL Rahul didn’t last long either, departing in the 16th over for just 14. Rain then forced a long halt in play. After nearly two hours, play resumed with skipper Shubman Gill and debutant Sai Sudharsan attempting to build a partnership. However, Gill perished for 21 while attempting a risky single. His dismissal was soon followed by another burst of rain, which once again brought play to a standstill.

There were doubts whether play would resume at all, but the players returned eventually. This time, Sai Sudharsan fell to an unplayable delivery — the ball pitched outside off, jagged in sharply, took the edge, and landed safely in the gloves of England’s wicketkeeper Smith. It was the kind of delivery that reminds you why crowds pack stadiums to watch Test cricket.

With Sudharsan gone, all eyes turned to Ravindra Jadeja — the hero of the last match. He began confidently with a boundary via an upper cut, but was undone by the very next delivery — a near replica of the ball that dismissed Sudharsan. He departed for just 9.

Dhuruv Jurel and Karun Nair tried to steady the ship, but Jurel eventually fell for 19. Karun, however, kept fighting alongside Washington Sundar. Their partnership — and Karun’s own gritty half-century in the dying moments of the day — became the backbone of India's innings. This match is nothing short of a trial by fire for Karun, who returned to the XI in place of Shardul Thakur. He seems to understand what’s at stake, and his dogged determination has kept India in the contest. Notably, this is his first fifty of the series — and the first time he’s crossed 50 since his unbeaten 303 in a Test several years ago.

This is a do-or-die game for India. Even a draw would mean losing the series. In such a ‘must-win’ situation, the Oval has turned into a veritable battlefield for the Indian team. Despite regular setbacks and a flurry of wickets, the Men in Blue have not backed down — at least that’s what Day 1’s scorecard reflects.