India made a solid start to the opening Test against England on Friday, but late strikes by the hosts saw the visitors reach 92 for 2 at lunch on Day 1. After a promising opening partnership, India lost KL Rahul and debutant B Sai Sudharsan in quick succession, slightly denting their momentum heading into the break.

Opting to bat first, India’s openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul laid a strong foundation on a good batting surface. The duo played with discipline and intent, weathering the early spells and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Their partnership was worth 91 runs, offering India a confident start to the series.

Jaiswal looked composed throughout the session, finishing unbeaten on 42 from 74 deliveries, including eight crisply struck boundaries. He was solid in defence and fluent with his strokeplay, particularly through the off-side, and looked set to anchor the innings deeper into the day.