'Not quite sunk in': Ollie Pope on his 196 run knock against India in Hyderabad

England batter Ollie Pope played one of the best knocks of his career to guide his side to an emphatic Test win against India in the first Test match in Hyderabad. Chasing a target of 231, the Rohit Sharma-led side fell short by 28 runs. England spinner Tom Hartley also produced a magical bowling having scalped seven wickets in the second innings.

Read: England give India a reality check as ‘Bazball’ announces itself

Pope was the central figure and his second-innings knock of 196 not only pulled England ahead but also gave the side the belief that they could beat India. Speaking after the match, Pope reflected on his efforts and said that he was still buzzing from the remarkable comeback. He also called this performance as being head and shoulders over anything that he had ever done.

“Guys are telling me I won’t play a better knock, and that’s absolutely fine. I was really happy with that. I’ve had a long time out – seven months. So, to come back and do this on the big stage in India is head and shoulders above anything I have done,” Pope said in a video shared by England Cricket on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

“’To come back from where we did is an unbelievable achievement,’” read the post.

Pope also talked about England’s triumph in Hyderabad and called it one of their best achievements. Pope’s innings was the fourth-highest individual Test score by an English batter in India, after Joe Root (218 in 2021), Mike Gatting (207 in 1985), and Graeme Fowler (201 in 1985).

“What a win! It’s probably not quite sunk in what we have done yet. That’s a brilliant Indian side that we have beaten on home soil in their conditions. To come back from where we did is an unbelievable achievement. Probably one of our best, if not the best,” Pope added.

Team India, which have been a dominant force in home conditions for over a decade now in Tests, looked a bit hapless on day three and day four of the opening contest against England. India will now need to script a prompt comeback in the second Test match in Visakhapatnam. The second fixture of the five-match Test series between India and England will start on 2 February.