New Delhi: India started the day well as Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami opened the day. It was a day where India dominated all three sessions and a day where only 39 overs were bowled. A day heavily affected by the rain saw a record-breaking over by Stuart Broad, in which the English bowler went for 35 runs, quite close to what happened in 2007.
India crossed the 400-mark
India accumulated 78 runs for the last 3 wickets. Sir Jadeja’s calm and composed inning was credited well with a hundred. Even the so-called Indian tailenders batted with great intent. Mohammed Shami who was seen playing defensively at the end of Day 1, was seen in his original form on day 2. Shami ended up with a score of 16(31). As Andersen dismissed Jadeja with the new ball, England seemed to have stopped India from crossing the 400-mark.
The 10th wicket partnership witnessed something unusual by Bumrah-the batsman. Vikram Rathour, India’s batting coach, has earlier told the media that they are working on the batting skills of tailenders too. It seems like they have worked on their lower order much more than the constantly failing top order. When Broad came out to bowl the fourth over with the new ball, the over read, 4 5w 7nb 4 4 4 6 1. Jasprit Burmah hit Broad for 29 runs in that over which proved to be a 35-runs over, all thanks to 6 extra runs from Broad. The ghosts of the 2007 T20 World Cup came back as during the world cup Yuvraj Singh hit broad for 6 sixes in an over. This 35-runs over proved to be a record for conceding the highest runs in an over in Test matches. Moreover, Bumrah broke the 28 runs record co-held by Brian Lara, George Bailey and Keshav Maharaj.
The 41 runs partnership in just 17 balls helped India score 416 with Bumrah remaining 31*(16). England bowlers were bowling a lot of short deliveries, which definitely did not work against the Indian lower order. Rather than finding some swing by bowling full, they went to hit the deck and got hit for runs.
England loses early wickets in a rain-affected inning
In the third over itself, Bumrah struck by dismissing Alex Lees and England was 16/1. The Stokes phenomenon worked for Burmah as well, as he also got Lees bowled on the extra ball he had to bowl due to a no-ball. It rained and the first session ended. Coming back, on the first ball of the 5th over, Bumrah struck again with a full-length delivery that Crawley tried to drive but edged and was caught in slips by Gill. After some showers again, Bumrah took his third wicket, again on an extra delivery due to a no-ball.
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow tried to build up a partnership but were constantly troubled by Bumrah and Shami. It was later Mohammed Siraj who got Root out with a ball coming in, to which Root tried to cut but gave a catch to the keeper.
Shami was bowling really tight line and lengths but was not rewarded as Kohli dropped the catch of nightwatchman Jack Leach. Soon, Shami made a comeback and Leach edged again, this time Pant made no mistake and Shami’s wicket column finally showed a number.
Predictions for Day 3
As Bairstow and Stokes stand in the way of India, the game is still on. The ‘Bazball’ has worked in such situations for England and they will look out to go near 300. Indian bowlers bowling tight lengths may add to the difficulty for England. India needs to keep the momentum going and use its 4th and 5th bowlers wisely.
If the weather supports the play, day 3 will most probably see England getting out in the first two sessions and India batting the third.
