Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team ended Day 1 of the first Test in a commanding position at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The hosts bundled out the visitors for 246 runs in the first innings. On the contrary, India ended the first day’s play at 119/1. When played ended on Thursday, the hosts were trailing by 127 runs.

Just hours before the start of the second day’s play, former England cricketer, Kevin Pietersen took to his X handle (previously known as Twitter) made a prediction that came out to be true. Pietersen wanted Joe Root to bowl first up in the morning session. The commentator was able to decode the nature of the Indian pitches which typically assist spinners.

It is quite obvious that the pitches tend to deteriorate as the match progresses, providing a great deal of turn and bounce to spinners. On Day 2, the pitch generally starts to show signs of wear, making it more conducive to spin. Incidentally, England’s Test captain Ben Stokes gave the ball to Joe Root in the hope that the latter would extract much on the surface.

Ind vs Eng, 1st Test: Kevin Pietersen’s prediction was spot on!

“Can Joe Root PLEASE bowl first up this morning! He WIL spin the ball!” Pietersen tweeted. Just as Kevin Pietersen predicted, Joe Root made a crucial breakthrough with the ball in the first over by getting rid of dangerous Yashasvi Jaiswal who went all guns blazing on Day 1.

The young left-handed batter smashed Root’s first delivery for a four over long-on off on Day 2. However, Root made a terrific comeback by deceiving the left-hander with a tossed-up delivery, which tempted Jaiswal to step down the track to hit it over Joe Root. As it turned out, Jaiswal got a thick edge before Root timed his jump properly to take a catch in his safe pair of hands. Jaiswal made his way back to the dressing room after scoring 80 off 74 balls (10 fours, 3 sixes).

Talking abot the match, India went to lunch on Day 2 at 222/3. Shubman Gill out for 23 off 66, but Kl Rahul and Shreyas Iyer joined forces to keep India on top. Rahul (55*) brought up his 14th Test fifty, and his partnership with Iyer (34*) accounted for 63 off 91 in the first session.