Despite England trailing by 238 runs in the first innings and heading into the fourth innings, the pressure seemed to be on India at the end of the second day. England had surged to 207/2 in just 35 overs, with opener Ben Duckett unbeaten on 133 with 21 fours and 2 sixes. This highlighted the contrasting approaches of both teams, with England desperate to win and India aiming to cling on.
The aggressive batting of England and Duckett’s impressive performance underscored the stark difference in the two teams’ strategies. While England attacked with innovative tactics, India appeared passive, unable to contain Duckett’s onslaught.
Ravichandran Ashwin praised Duckett’s performance but admitted to being competitive, refraining from clapping for some of Duckett’s shots. Despite Duckett’s brilliance, the fall of Sarfaraz Khan through a mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja proved costly for India. Joe Root’s tactics further dented India’s progress, with Jadeja’s dismissal deflating India early in the morning.
India’s hopes now rest on Jasprit Bumrah, who troubled Duckett with yorkers and slower ones. However, Duckett’s response demonstrated his resilience and skill.
England’s aggressive approach has become normalized, with journalists pointing to past matches where England displayed similar batting prowess. India, however, faces a challenge with an inexperienced batting lineup.
As the pitch slows down, India will hope for more variable bounce and turn on the third day to put pressure on England. If England manages to build a lead quickly, it could spell trouble for India’s inexperienced batting lineup.
