The fifth and final Test between India and England at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala has taken a dramatic turn as Day 2 concluded with England seizing early control after India was bundled out for a modest 224 in their first innings. With a spirited opening stand and solid top-order performance, England stormed back into contention after a shaky Day 1. As the pitch continued to offer assistance to the pacers, the Test match has evolved into a tense and fascinating battle for supremacy between two cricketing giants.
First Session Recap: England Finish Off India’s Tail Quickly
Resuming Day 2 at 220/8, India would have hoped to push their total closer to the 250-run mark. However, England’s bowlers came in with an aggressive intent. James Anderson, playing his likely final Test on Indian soil, made an immediate impact by dismissing Jasprit Bumrah for 4, trapping him plumb in front. Shoaib Bashir cleaned up Kuldeep Yadav in the very next over, ending the Indian innings at 224 — a total that fell short of expectations, especially after a gritty 79-run knock by captain Rohit Sharma on Day 1.
India’s Batting Summary:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 79 | 146 | 10 | 1 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 28 | 34 | 4 | 1 |
| Virat Kohli | 15 | 23 | 2 | 0 |
| Shubman Gill | 11 | 27 | 1 | 0 |
| Rishabh Pant | 36 | 49 | 4 | 2 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 19 | 42 | 2 | 0 |
| Axar Patel | 5 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 2 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
England’s Bowling Performance:
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Anderson | 16.3 | 42 | 3 |
| Mark Wood | 14 | 51 | 2 |
| Shoaib Bashir | 17 | 49 | 3 |
| Tom Hartley | 10 | 28 | 2 |
The English bowlers were disciplined in their lines and lengths, using the bounce in the surface well. Anderson was once again the star with the new ball and Bashir’s consistency in attacking the stumps paid off handsomely.
England’s Opening Stand: Crawley & Duckett Lead the Charge
In response, the English openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett walked in with positive intent. India’s pacers, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, struggled to extract the same venom from the surface that the English seamers had. The English duo capitalized on every loose delivery and brought up a 50-run stand within the first 11 overs.
Crawley, with his confident strokeplay, kept the scoreboard ticking, while Duckett used the sweep and reverse sweep to good effect against the Indian spinners. England’s approach was clear — attack and unsettle the bowlers early.
Key Highlights of the First Session for England:
- Crawley raced to a quick 42 off 63 balls, punishing anything short or wide.
- Duckett looked equally fluent with his 38 off 54 balls, effectively using the square of the wicket.
- The 85-run opening partnership laid a solid foundation for the visitors.
Middle Session: India Strike, But England Consolidate
India finally got their breakthrough after lunch when Kuldeep Yadav bowled Ben Duckett with a beautiful delivery that turned sharply and beat the inside edge. Soon after, Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Ollie Pope, who edged one to the slips trying to play an expansive drive.
However, just when India sensed a possible collapse, Joe Root and Crawley stitched together a vital 70-run stand that wrestled the momentum back toward England.
Crawley’s half-century came in 85 balls — an innings filled with authority and composure. He used his reach effectively against the spinners, often smothering the turn and playing along the ground. Root, on the other hand, rotated the strike with ease and played the spinners with the comfort of a man who’s spent years dominating subcontinent conditions.
England Batting Scorecard at Tea:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawley | 67 | 102 | 9 | 1 |
| Duckett | 41 | 62 | 6 | 0 |
| Pope | 12 | 21 | 2 | 0 |
| Root | 34* | 66 | 3 | 0 |
At tea, England were 173/2, trailing by just 51 runs, and looked comfortably placed to take a first-innings lead.
Final Session: Crawley Falls, But England Edges Ahead
After tea, Crawley tried to up the ante but fell to Bumrah, nicking one to the slip cordon. His dismissal brought a roar back into the crowd, but England were already inching close to India’s total by then. Root continued his cautious approach, joined by Jonny Bairstow, who added urgency with his counter-attacking style.
Bairstow smashed a couple of boundaries and a six off Axar Patel, ensuring India didn’t settle into a rhythm. Though Kuldeep bowled with great control, the England batters refused to let him dominate like he had in the earlier Tests.
By the end of Day 2, England were 233/4, leading India by 9 runs, with Root on 56 and Bairstow on 27**.
Day 2 Summary:
| Session | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Morning | India all out for 224; England openers start strong |
| Afternoon | Duckett, Pope fall; Crawley and Root steady the innings |
| Evening | Crawley falls to Bumrah; England take the lead with Root still unbeaten |
Pitch Report & Conditions
The HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala offered variable bounce throughout the day, especially for pacers in the morning. However, as the sun beat down, the pitch flattened out slightly, offering batters better control. The spinners got some grip and turn in the afternoon and evening sessions.
Experts believe the pitch will deteriorate slightly more on Day 3 and 4, making the role of the spinners increasingly crucial. Batting on Day 4 could be the toughest, placing pressure on both teams to score big in their first innings.
Tactical Breakdown: What India Needs to Do
India’s bowlers were steady but not threatening enough. Kuldeep Yadav looked the most likely to pick wickets, but Bumrah was underwhelming by his standards. With England already ahead, India will need early wickets on Day 3 to keep the first-innings deficit within reach.
The Indian batting line-up will be under pressure again in the second innings. With no 50+ score apart from Rohit Sharma’s Day 1 effort, the middle-order will need to fire if they want to stay alive in the match.
England’s Approach: Aggression With Caution
England’s “Bazball” approach continues to evolve. While the openers came out attacking, Root and Bairstow balanced it with a more patient approach. England now have a slight lead, with a chance to bat India out of the game if they can stretch this to a 100+ run advantage.
Their spinners, especially Bashir and Hartley, showed they can get assistance from the surface. This will give them the edge on Days 3 and 4 when India bat again.
Key Player Performances So Far
India:
- Rohit Sharma: Showed grit and skill on Day 1 with a solid 79.
- Kuldeep Yadav: The most consistent spinner so far; has kept England quiet in phases.
- Jasprit Bumrah: Yet to find rhythm; India needs his magic spell on Day 3.
England:
- Zak Crawley: Impressive 67; used reach and footwork effectively.
- Joe Root: Calm and authoritative; on course for a big score.
- Shoaib Bashir: Key in cleaning up the Indian tail; threat on this surface.
What to Expect on Day 3
- England will aim to stretch their lead beyond 100 to put India under scoreboard pressure.
- India needs quick wickets in the first session to keep the match in balance.
- Root and Bairstow’s partnership will be crucial; if they survive the first hour, England could run away with it.
