Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has urged India to secure a victory in the first Test against England, following their commanding performance at the start of the match.India’s first innings total reached 471 runs after being asked to bat, with centuries from Yashaswi Jaiswal, captain Shubman Gill, and Rishab Pant.Ganguly noted India’s strong position at 359 for three on day one, suggesting potential for a larger total.“Nobody expects Headingley to be so dry. But what will happen is, if they get 600, it starts getting a bit up and down. India must win this. They won’t get this opportunity again,” Ganguly told PTI.The team selection saw both leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh excluded from the playing XI.
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“Kuldeep will play slowly. It’s a long series. I would have played Arsh. Because of a different angle (for being left-armer). But it’s okay. They’re good,” Ganguly said, adding that Ravindra Jadeja will have to bowl well since he usually struggles away from home.England’s bowling attack features Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and captain Ben Stokes, differing from their previous lineup that included James Anderson and Stuart Broad.“They bowl too short actually. Halfway through yesterday, they were bowling only short to Shubman Gill. But it’s okay. They’ll learn. It’s just the first Test,” said Ganguly.When asked about predicting a 3-1 series win for India, Ganguly responded, “It’s too early to say.”On Day Two, Jasprit Bumrah claimed the crucial wicket of Joe Root for 28 runs, while Ollie Pope remained unbeaten with a century.
England reached 209/3 at stumps, still trailing India by 262 runs.Pope scored 100 runs off 131 balls, including 13 boundaries, and was joined at the crease by Harry Brook, who was yet to score.Bumrah’s dismissal of Root, caught at first slip, helped maintain India’s advantage in the match.India’s first innings concluded after losing seven wickets for 112 runs on Day Two, with centuries from Rishabh Pant (134), Shubman Gill (147), and Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) contributing to their substantial total.
