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ENG vs IND: Fans react as Karun Nair’s brilliant fifty rescues India from collapse after England’s fierce start on Day 1 of the Oval Test

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Karun Nair anchored India’s innings as England pacers dominated on the liveliest pitch of the series at The Oval. After losing the toss for the fifth consecutive time, India’s top order crumbled under pressure, leaving Nair to build a defiant stand. England’s pacers, led by Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, exploited the conditions perfectly, making early inroads and putting the visiting team on the back foot. However, Nair’s resilience and composed batting, along with a crucial late partnership, ensured India remained in the contest, fighting hard against a relentless and aggressive England bowling attack on a challenging surface. India finished the opening day at 204/6 by stumps after being invited to bat first.

ENG vs IND: England’s pacers dominate as India’s middle order falters

On a pitch that offered the most assistance to bowlers all series, England’s pace attack seized the advantage from the very first over. Atkinson, making a significant impact, led the charge by dismissing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for just 2 runs with a sharp inswinger that trapped him LBW. The pressure was relentless, and it paid off again when Chris Woakes got rid of a set KL Rahul, who chopped the ball onto his stumps for 14. This aggressive and accurate bowling performance left India’s top order in disarray.

The biggest blow came with the crucial run-out of captain Shubman Gill for 21, orchestrated by a brilliant piece of fielding by Atkinson. The English bowlers’ ability to maintain a tight line and length, combined with the helpful conditions, meant that India struggled to find any rhythm, with the top half of their batting lineup back in the pavilion before they could even establish a solid footing.

Also WATCH: England crowd mocks Shubman Gill after disastrous run-out cuts his innings short on Day 1 of Oval Test

ENG vs IND: Karun Nair emerges as the lone warrior for India on Day 1 of Oval Test

Amidst the early carnage and the fall of key wickets, Nair emerged as the lone warrior for India, displaying remarkable grit and composure to anchor the innings. Arriving at the crease with the score at a precarious 83 for 3, Nair weathered the storm of England’s relentless pace attack. However, even with Nair’s resilience, India’s lower middle-order struggled to convert starts. Ravindra Jadeja’s brief stay at the crease ended with him nicking a delivery from Tongue to the wicketkeeper for just 9 runs, putting India in a deeper hole.

Dhruv Jurel, coming in at number seven, showed great promise by building a crucial 30-run stand with Nair. Just when it seemed like India was steadying the ship, Jurel was dismissed in a bizarre sequence of events, first overturning an LBW decision with a review only to be caught in the slips on the very next ball for 19, with Atkinson claiming the wicket. Despite these setbacks, Nair’s determined stay, which saw him reach an unbeaten 52 at the close of play on Day 1, was a testament to his mental fortitude and provided a much-needed backbone to an otherwise fragile batting performance, as he forged a late partnership with Washington Sundar.