IND vs ENG Day 2 Highlights: The Indian cricket team on Friday consolidated their position in the second day of the IND vs ENG 1st Test. At the end of Day 2, India are at 421/7 and have already taken a healthy lead of 175 runs. Ravindra Jadeja (81) and Axar Patel (35) are at the crease, trying to take India’s lead as far as possible.
After bowling the visitors out for 246 in the first day, India were in a dominant position resuming their innings at 119/1 on Day 2. However, India had a nightmarish start to 2nd day, losing yesterday’s half-centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal in the first over. Shubman Gill departed soon after, as England reduced India to 159/3.
KL Rahul Supermacy
However, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer took the game to the opposition with an 84-run partnership. KL Rahul looked especially menacing, playing shots with ease as Shreyas Iyer rotated the strike. Iyer departed at an individual score of 35, chipping one straight to the hands of Tom Hartley off the bowling of Rehan Ahmed. KL kept going strong, and just when it looked like the batter would go on to score a century, Tom Hartley sent KL back to the pavilion on 86.
Ravindra Jadeja’s counter-attack
Ravindra Jadeja and KS Bharat consolidated India’s position further after the KL Rahul setback. Jadeja was lucky not to be given out after being caught plumb in front of the wicket off the bowling of Root. With England having no reviews left, the Ben Stokes-led side could not challenge the decision. Jadeja went on to score a 50, but KS Bharat departed at 41, caught in front of the wicket trying to sweep a ball from Joe Root.
Ravichandran Ashwin was the next man to get out, as the Indian off-spinner paid the price for a mix-up in the middle of the wicket between him and Jadeja.
Axar Patel joined Jadeja on the crease and carried on piling more misery to the Stokes-led team as England failed to have a major breakthrough. Jadeja was batting 81 and Axar remained not out on 35 at stumps on Day 2. If India can add another 100+ runs in the first session of Day 3, it will certainly put Rohit Sharma’s men in a more advantageous position.
