On Day 2 of the IND vs ENG 1st Test at Headingley, the broad disintegration of Team India went from an also-ran position of 430/3 to 471 all out, and with the shock centuries of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, the middle and lower orders couldn’t capitalise on the platform set only to lose 7 wickets for just 41 runs.
India’s Strong Start: Jaiswal, Gill, and Pant Shine
Having lost the toss, India were forced to bat first and made a blistering start. The top order had class and aggression in spades:
Yashasvi Jaiswal played a composed 101
Captain Shubman Gill anchored the innings with a majestic 147
Rishabh Pant added some pizzazz with his own brutal 134
By Day 1’s end, India were 359/3 and looking good for an innings of more than 500. Hope emerged with the dawn of Day 2.
Day 2: 430/3 to 471 All Out – Where Did It Go Wrong?
Things went awry when Shubman Gill was caught at the team score of 430. Up until that moment, India appeared to be in total control. Soon after, Rishabh Pant, having already crossed his century, picked up the pace for a while before getting out at 134.
This was followed by a dramatic batting collapse, with India losing their remaining 7 wickets for a mere 41 runs, falling far short of the projected 500+ score. England gained momentum through tight line and fiery bowling, taking advantage of the Indian middle and lower order’s weakness.
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England’s Bowling Turnaround: Stokes and Tongue Lead the Charge
England’s bowlers deserve credit for fighting back in a challenging first day. At the forefront:
Ben Stokes produced a captain’s display, taking 4 wickets for 66 runs in 20 overs.
Josh Tongue equalled his captain with 4 wickets for 86 runs in his outing.
Supporting performances came from Brydon Carse and Shoaib Bashir, who each captured one wicket, preventing India from being able to build on their solid foundation.
Missed Opportunity for Team India in IND vs ENG 1st Test
Team India’s initial dominance indicated a record score was on the cards, but the collapse revealed the absence of depth in their batting. With the pitch still set, this abrupt fall can prove to be a turning point in the IND vs ENG 1st Test.
Momentum Shifts in England’s Favour
What had appeared a flawless day of batting for India became a momentum-turning period for England. Although the Jaiswal, Gill, and Pant centuries provided India with a formidable total, the abrupt collapse gave England a psychological advantage going into their first innings.
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