Visakhapatnam, Feb 3: India were leading by 171 runs against England with 10 second innings wickets in hand, at stumps on Day 2 of the Second Test being played at Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium, here on Saturday.
Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hit a marathon 209 in 277 balls in first innings and was dismissed earlier in the day, was back again on strike towards the closing hours of Day 2.
Jaiswal was unbeaten on 15 runs from 17 balls, with three boundaries. His opening partner skipper Rohit Sharma was not out on 13 with same three hits to the fence, with a strike rate of 100%.
When India resume batting on Day 3 first session, it would be interesting to watch what would be England captain Ben Stokes's approach?
Will the English skipper employ his spinners directly? Or, will he bowl himself a couple of overs? Not to be astonished if Stokes rolls over his arms, in company of veteran pacer James Anderson, to utilise the morning conditions that help fast bowlers.
Since captain Stokes is the only other recognised pacer in the side apart from Anderson, so will he take a cue from India's Bumrah and send down a few overs himself? That will definitely be a point of interest on Day 3 first session.
As per England's batting display on Day 2, after bundling out India for 396, the visitors began their first innings with their usual 'Bazball' approach. But they lost the plot and were eventually all out for 253 in 55.5 overs.
Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah (6/45) and left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3/71) dominated English batters, who never hesitated to play their shots. Bumrah playing his 34th Test match, became the fastest Indian pacer to grab 150 Test wickets.
The visitors started with a rapid 59 runs partnership for the first wicket in just 10.2 overs, but lost the plot soon. Despite regular wickets, England continued to play aggressively, but ended up conceding 143 runs first innings lead to India.
Earlier opener Zak Crawley (76 in 78 balls) displayed a hurricane knock, before Shreyas Iyer grabbed a difficult catch at backward point to help Axar Patel get his first and the only scalp in English first innings. Crawley hit 11 boundaries and two sixes.
The other wickets that England lost on Day 2 included Ben Duckett (21 in 17 balls), inform Ollie Pope (23 in 55 balls), seasoned Joe Root (5 in 10 balls), Jonny Bairstow (25 in 39 balls), Ben Foakes (6 in 10 balls), Rehan Ahmed (6 in 15 balls), skipper Ben Stokes (47 in 54 balls, Tom Hartley (15 in 24 balls) and James Anderson (6 in 19 balls).
Indian bowlers, definitely performed better than what they did in Hyderabad. But unlike in the First Test, Team India need to bat really well in the second innings. The top order need to baty like Jaiswal and compensate the excellent work done by their bowlers.
Unless the hosts set a target more than 450, in all probability, England with time in hand, would surely try to outsmart India.
Remind you India trail 0-1 in the five-match Test series.
Earlier in the day, young Yashasvi Jaiswal with his marathon 209 in 277 balls, stormed into record books as the third youngest Indian to score a Test double century after Vinod Kambli and Sunil Gavaskar.
Brief scores Day 2:
India 396 & 28/0 (5 overs).
England 253 in 55.5 overs.
India lead by 171 runs.
Match to Continue.
