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India Ride On Gill-Pant Show Before Pope’s Hundred And Bumrah’s Brilliance Set Up Day 3

Jatin

India vs England 1st Test Day 2 Highlights [Source: @BCCI, @surreycricket/x.com]India vs England 1st Test Day 2 Highlights [Source: @BCCI, @surreycricket/x.com]

Day 2 of the 1st ENG vs IND Test at Headingley in Leeds had a bit of everything: class, chaos, missed chances and late drama. India started the day strongly, thanks to Rishabh Pant’s fireworks and Shubman Gill’s calm control, pushing past 450.

But England clawed back, first with the ball, then with the bat. Ollie Pope’s century anchored the hosts after a stunning Bumrah spell that could have ended with more if not for sloppy catching and a no-ball heartbreak. At stumps, both teams had their moments, but it is still India slightly ahead on points in this see-saw Test.

Here’s a look at the IND vs ENG highlights from Day 2 of the 1st Test.

Pant’s Carnage And Gill’s Calm Take India Past 450

The day began with Shubman Gill holding one end like a monk on meditation mode while Rishabh Pant brought chaos to calm waters. Gill was ticking along nicely before he tried to up the ante and found the deep square-leg fielder for a well-compiled 147. But it was Pant who stole the morning show.

With the surface flat and bowlers going through the motions, Pant did Pant-things. Reverse sweeps, shimmies down the track and a one-handed six over midwicket to bring up his seventh Test hundred as he toyed with England. But the fun didn’t last forever. 

He left one that came in, misjudged it badly, and was trapped in front for a sizzling 134. Before that, comeback man Karun Nair’s return didn’t go to plan as he spooned one to cover for a duck. Shardul added to the collapse by nicking one behind right before lunch, leaving India at 454/7.

Bumrah Breathes Fire But Dropped Catches Let England Off The Hook

Post lunch, India’s innings barely lasted five overs. The tail didn’t wag, it just rolled over. Josh Tongue found movement and wrapped things up quickly with a well-earned 4/86. Captain Ben Stokes also picked up crucial wickets, ending with of 4/66.

England’s reply was halted right away by rain, but it didn’t dampen Bumrah’s fire. Last ball of the first over? Swing. Seam. Edge. Zak Crawley gone for a duck, taken smartly by Karun Nair at first slip. Dream start for India but that’s where the dream ended.

Ben Duckett was dropped twice, both off Bumrah. First, a tricky one at short leg, but then a dolly to Jadeja at backward point. Duckett made India pay, racing to a half-century while Ollie Pope supported him brilliantly at the other end.

Mohammed Siraj struggled for rhythm and leaked runs, while Prasidh Krishna’s hard lengths and wide lines were cannon fodder. At Tea on Day 2, England posted 107/1, with Duckett unbeaten on 53 and Pope inching toward his fifty on 48.

Bumrah’s Breakthroughs, Pope’s Hundered Headline A Gritty Final Session

A few overs into the final session, Ben Duckett’s gritty knock came to an end as he chopped Bumrah’s ball onto his stumps. That was the opening India needed. But from there, it was all about Ollie Pope.

The right-hander shifted gears seamlessly, playing Jadeja with soft hands and timing the pacers with authority. His shot selection was spot on. Never rushed, never stuck, just pure Test match rhythm. He brought up a fine hundred off 125 balls, laced with 13 sweetly timed boundaries.

On the other hand, Joe Root never quite looked settled. After surviving a few nervy moments, he finally nicked one off Bumrah that was safely pouched at first slip by Karun Nair. India smelled blood. And they nearly had their fourth just before stumps.

On the fourth ball of the final over, Brook top-edged a bouncer to Siraj at short mid-wicket. But heartbreak followed as Bumrah had overstepped by the slimmest of margins. A golden chance gone begging.

Bumrah didn’t sulk and responded with venom. The last ball of the day was a brute, a head-high snorter that rushed Brook, who somehow managed to sway out of the way. It was a warning and a little trailer of what’s coming on Day 3.

England ended Day 2 at 209/3, still 262 behind. Pope is holding fort on 100 while Brook is yet to open his account.