Courageous Pant Pushes India Beyond 350
Rishabh Pant once again showcased his remarkable resilience, returning to the crease with a fractured foot to score a gutsy half-century that propelled India to a competitive 358 in the first innings. Despite hobbling between the wickets and visible discomfort, Pant stitched together crucial runs with Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar. His 69-ball 50 was a highlight in an otherwise tense morning session, where India added just 57 runs from 23 rain-curtailed overs.
Washington Sundar played a supporting role with 27 runs, while Thakur looked confident during his 41. Their 48-run stand frustrated England momentarily, especially as they resisted a bowling attack that was consistently extracting movement. But Jeetbuzz once Thakur edged Ben Stokes to gully and Sundar miscued a pull to fine leg, India’s lower order unraveled.
Stokes Hits Milestone with Five-Wicket Haul
England’s captain led from the front with the ball, claiming his first Test five-for since 2017. After picking off Thakur and Sundar, he dismissed debutant Anshul Kamboj for a duck and ended the innings with Pant’s partner Jasprit Bumrah caught behind via a review. Archer, too, played his part, removing the valiant Pant with a seaming delivery and troubling the tailenders with pace and precision.
India lost their last four wickets for just 37 runs in 9.1 overs during the second session, a collapse that shifted momentum firmly in England’s favour.
Duckett and Crawley Set the Tone in Style
In reply, England’s openers came out with purpose and aggression. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett capitalized on India’s inconsistent lines, racing to 77 without loss by Tea. Duckett quickly got going by punishing anything on the pads, including deliveries from both Bumrah and debutant Kamboj, who conceded three boundaries in a single over.
Crawley, after a slightly slower start, caught up with back-to-back fours off Siraj and a fluid drive through mid-on. He also survived a nervous Jeetwin moment when a review against him showed the ball sailing over the stumps. By the break, Duckett was unbeaten on 43 and Crawley on 33, with England reducing the deficit to 281 in just 16 overs at a scoring rate well above five an over.
India’s Bowling Falters Under Pressure
Jasprit Bumrah opened with a testing spell, mixing inswingers and outswingers effectively, but he lacked support from the other end. Kamboj’s expensive introduction gave England the early momentum they were after, while Siraj’s inconsistent lengths offered easy scoring opportunities. The Indian seamers struggled to build pressure, allowing both Duckett and Crawley to settle in and accelerate.
With England’s top order in such commanding form and a deep batting lineup to follow, India will need to find inspiration early on Day 3 if they are to claw their way back into the contest.