IND vs ENG 1st Test: Pope braves Indian spin trio on his way to hundred

Pope scored his second hundred in Asia and fifth overall in his 39-match long Test career

Ollie Pope became the first centurion in the first Test between India and England on the latter’s tour of India. The 22-year-old reached the hundred off just 154 balls as he braved the trial by spin at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday, January 27. This is Pope’s fifth Test century in only his 39th Test. He has had 11 fifties to his name as well. 

Thanks to his hundred and a great stand for the sixth wicket with Ben Foakes England managed to get past the Indian first-innings lead of 190 runs to take a lead of their own. Pope remained unbeaten on 148 at the end of play on Day three as England increased their lead to 126 with six wickets in hand. 

"Ollie Pope was brilliant. Pope looked to unsettle the Indian bowlers, it was a clear plan that he had, and it worked for him," former India captain and coach Anil Kumble told the brodcasters in the post-match show. 

Reverse Sweep: The Recipe for Pope’s Success

Pope reverse-swept, Dil Scooped as the 26-year-old hit 17 fours in his 208-ball knock. Pope reached his fifty in 54 balls and then took 100 more balls to reach his hundred. His 112-run stand with Ben Foakes brought England back into the game. 

Pope, who got out fidgeting in the first innings to Ravindra Jadeja, was brilliant with his shot selection. Seeing Ben Duckett reverse sweep comfortably at the other end made him confident too and he never missed one reverse sweep. 

But even more fine were his Dil Scoops which he brought up later on his innings, playing the fuller ball over the keeper’s head as if he was trying to dig something out of the ground and throw it over the wicket-keeper. 

"Pope and Ben Duckett, both used the reverse sweep to good effect and scored a lot of runs, but what was impressive was the use of wrists to take singles and doubles. And speaking about the sweeps, that is something England have planned, and we will continue to see a lot of that in this series," Owais Shah, former England batter said. 

All Hopes on Pope on Day 4

With England still in with a chance, all the English hopes will be hanging on Pope as he is unbeaten with bowling all-rounder Rehan Ahmed alongside him. While Pope has scored 148, Ahmed is not out on 16 off 31 balls as the dup have played 62 deliveries together to add 41 runs for the seventh wicket. If he manages to hang on till Lunch on Day 4 with the English tail, England could fancy their chance in the match. 

First Second Innings Hundred by Pope

Pope, who debuted against India at Lord’s in 2018, had not hit a second innings hundred so far in his career. This is his first hundred in the second innings of the Test, beating his previous best score of 82 against New Zealand at Leeds. This is in fact his second fifty-plus score in the second innings of a Test match and the first Test hundred against India. 

Ollie Pope’s Top-Five Second-Innings Scores in Tests

Score	Against	Year	Venue
148*	India	2024	Hyderabad
85	New Zealand	2022	Leeds
49	New Zealand	2023	Mount Maunganui
28	India	2021	Chennai
23	New Zealand	2021	Birmingham