Mumbai: After winning the toss and electing to bat first England captain Alaistar Cook and debutant Keaton Jennings laid the foundation for a good first innings total. However Karun Nair would like to forget this day with what turned out to be a 112 runs costly mistake. India could have mitigated the damage done by Keaton Jennings if Karun Nair had grabbed on to a tough catch at gully in the fourth over of the day. Jennings was yet to get off the mark when he fended at a ball from Umesh Yadav at over 140 kilometres per hour. The batsman glided the ball behind point and the extra bounce so typical of a Wankhede pitch had made him lose control of his shot. Nair stuck one hand out and almost completed the catch but couldn’t hold on to it. That turned out to be a massive turning point in the day’s play.

India vs England, 4th Test: Jennings superb century helps England finish at 288/5 on Day 1

Another twist was when Joe Root’s stumping opportunity was missed by wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel as the ball bounced and turned more than he had anticipated, thus hitting his elbow instead of going in his gloves. England 2 down before lunch could have been a different story altogether.

In the final session of the day India came back into the game big time when Ravichandran Ashwin, having conceded 34 in his first nine overs, took three wickets for 35 from his next 19, including Jennings caught at gully when an off-break landed in the growing rough.

But England came back yet again when Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes managed to survive the day and took the score from 249/5 to 288/5 remaining unbeaten and having an idea or two about the wicket will play on Day 2.

The first two hours of Day 2 would reveal the true story, with the help of R Ashwin’s performance India has just about pulled it back but England undoubtedly are slightly ahead at the moment.

After Stumps Day 1: England 288/5(94.0)

India

England won the toss and elected to bat

England RR 3.06