At the close of play on day two, England found themselves at 77 for three, and while they will draw some comfort from having Joe Root and Harry Brook still at the crease, there is little doubt that this day belonged squarely to India. It was a near-perfect display from the visitors, first amassing a mammoth total exceeding 550 runs, and then striking early blows with the ball to leave England under significant pressure.
Earlier in the day, India resumed their innings on 310 for five, having navigated through a slightly wobbly final session on day one where they lost Rishabh Pant and Nitish Reddy in quick succession. Those dismissals gave England a fleeting sense of optimism, especially considering the relatively modest batting credentials of India’s lower order. At that point, England might have entertained hopes of wrapping up the innings for something close to 400.
However, Shubman Gill’s sublime century, that was also his second in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries, completely shifted the balance. Displaying remarkable composure and technical finesse, Gill shepherded the tail and guided India past the 400-run mark that had seemed a distant prospect just the evening before. His innings was marked by elegant drives and confident strokeplay, underlining why he is increasingly viewed as the next batting torchbearer for India.
By the time India’s innings finally concluded at an imposing 587, the complexion of the match had dramatically altered. England’s bowlers, who might have envisioned a far less taxing outing when they had India at 310 for five, were left visibly drained by the sustained resistance and counterattack.
When it was England’s turn to bat, India’s bowlers wasted no time in making inroads. The seamers exploited the early assistance on offer, removing three of England’s top-order batters and putting the hosts firmly on the back foot. The dismissals were a testament to India’s relentless discipline with the ball, capitalising on the scoreboard pressure their batters had created.
Still, England’s hopes are far from extinguished. With Root and Brook holding fort, the hosts will believe they can mount a meaningful response on day three. Much, however, will depend on how these two navigate the early exchanges, as another flurry of wickets could leave England staring at a daunting follow-on situation.
All things considered, it was a day thoroughly dominated by India. Their batters set up the contest with an imposing total, and their bowlers ensured that England felt the weight of it almost immediately.
