Watch: Joe Root practices left-handed reverse sweep ahead of the 2nd IND vs ENG Test in Visakhapatnam

England have beaten India by 28 runs after trailing by 190 runs in the first innings. In the second innings what was noticeable was the efficiency with which England batters were sweeping and reverse-sweeping the Indian spinners which the latter had no answers to.

It seems like it will be a strategy England will be using against the likes of R Ashwin and Co. to put off their lengths in the 2nd Test in Visakhapatnam as well. In a social media video England talisman Joe Root was seen batting left-handed and practising a reverse sweep from that position in the nets.

“England bamboozled India with their sweeps and reverse sweeps and to lose after taking a 190-run lead will be mind-blowing for India. It has never happened to them before on their own pitches where they thought they were invincible,” wrote Geoffrey Boycott in his column for The Telegraph.

Joe Root setting up as a left-hander at England training in Vizag pic.twitter.com/GmabemPrY7

— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) January 31, 2024

However, India skipper Rohit Sharma lamented his top batmen’s failure for loss on Sunday, saying they lacked the fight and character showed by the team’s lower-order batters after being set a “gettable” 231-run target. India were all out for 202 to lose the match by 28 runs, completing a remarkable turnaround a day after conceding a huge first-innings lead of 190 runs.

Ollie laid the foundation for a famous English win with a monumental knock of 196 before debutant left-arm spinner Tom Hartley finished with excellent figures of 7/62 in the second innings. “I thought 230 was gettable but it wasn’t to be. Thought we bowled in the right areas, we analysed what went well and what didn’t. But you’ve got to take your hat off and say well played to Pope,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“Hard to look at one or two things. We didn’t bat well enough to get to that score. 20-30 runs anything is possible. The lower order fought well and showed the top order (how to do it). We didn’t take some chances but that can happen, it’s the first game of the series,” Rohit added.

(With agency inputs)

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