England Takes Firm Control on Day 2 Despite Pant's Fireworks
England firmly seized the momentum on the second day of the first Test at Headingley, first triggering an Indian batting collapse to bowl the visitors out for 471 and then responding with an aggressive batting display to end the day in a commanding position at 209 for 3. Despite a swashbuckling century from Rishabh Pant and a heroic bowling effort from Jasprit Bumrah, it was a day that belonged to the hosts.
Pant's Brilliance Followed by a Sudden Collapse
The day began brightly for India, with Rishabh Pant and captain Shubman Gill extending their overnight partnership. Pant, in his typical audacious style, raced to his seventh Test century with a six, celebrating with his trademark acrobatics. The pair added a mammoth 209 runs for the third wicket, and India looked set for a colossal first-innings total. However, the dismissal of Gill for 147 opened the door for an English resurgence. Captain Ben Stokes led the charge, claiming crucial wickets including that of Pant for a brilliant 134. India lost their last eight wickets for just 115 runs, with Josh Tongue and Stokes finishing with four wickets apiece, restricting the visitors to a total that felt well short of their potential.
England's Aggressive Reply and Pope's Masterclass
In response, England's batters adopted their familiar "Bazball" approach, scoring at a brisk rate of over four runs per over. After an early breakthrough from Jasprit Bumrah who dismissed Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett (62) and Ollie Pope forged a superb 124-run partnership that put the Indian bowlers under immense pressure. Pope, who was dropped on 60 by Yashasvi Jaiswal, made India pay dearly for the mistake. He went on to score a magnificent, unbeaten century, his ninth in Test cricket, anchoring the innings with a blend of classic strokes and positive intent.
Bumrah's Lone Stand
While England's batters flourished, Jasprit Bumrah was a class apart for India. He was the only bowler who consistently troubled the English lineup, finishing the day with figures of 3 for 48. He claimed all three wickets to fall—Crawley, Duckett, and the prized scalp of Joe Root just before stumps. However, he received little support from the other end, as the rest of the Indian attack struggled for control and leaked runs. Dropped catches further compounded India's woes, leaving new captain Shubman Gill with a stark introduction to the rigors of Test leadership. England ended the day trailing by 262 runs with seven wickets in hand, firmly in the driver's seat.
