IND vs ENG 1st Test Day 2 Highlights: KL Rahul And Jadeja Lead India 421/7. India continued their dominance in the first Test against England on Friday, January 26, showcasing a diverse and effective batting approach at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. While Yashavi Jaiswal’s entertaining knock of 76 stole the spotlight on the opening day, India adapted to a more traditional batting style as the pitch offered increased turn but slowed down significantly.
The conclusion of a highly captivating day of Test cricket has witnessed India seizing complete control of the game, extending their lead to 175 runs. With an eye on reaching the 200-run milestone and two batters who have both demonstrated their resilience at the crease, achieving this target appears to be a mere formality.
Despite losing a couple of wickets in all three sessions, India consistently forged partnerships, preventing the opposition from making any significant comeback in the game. Ravindra Jadeja showcased his brilliance with an unbeaten knock of 81 runs, following impressive innings in the 80s from Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. The team received valuable contributions from KS Bharat, who scored 41 before his dismissal, and now from the unbeaten Axar Patel, who has accumulated 35 runs.
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India’s Commanding Day: Dominance, Partnerships, and Stellar Performances
With the exception of Shubman Gill, who seemed tentative, every Indian batsman appeared comfortable, denying England, led by Ben Stokes, any opportunity to stage a comeback. Ravindra Jadeja, in particular, looked confident in the middle, forming a strong partnership with the lower-middle order. KL Rahul, adjusting to his new position at No. 4 in the absence of Virat Kohli, continued his stellar batting form.
KL Rahul, adopting a cautious approach without taking unnecessary risks, revealed that he had a discussion with Rohit Sharma about the pitch conditions before the day’s play. “The wicket is a bit slow. You cannot go in there and start playing your shots. So you have to give yourself more time, and that’s what I did,” said Rahul.
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Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel entertained the enthusiastic Hyderabad crowd, who turned out in large numbers on the national holiday. They took on the England spinners towards the end of the day, extending play by half-an-hour to ensure India’s total surpassed 400. Jadeja, unbeaten on 81, and Axar formed a 63-run partnership as India showcased their all-round strength, even though R Ashwin, with five Test centuries, was run-out for 1.
As Stumps was called in the late afternoon, the tired look on the faces of the England bowlers and fielders indicated the challenge they faced. With India’s lead reaching a decisive 171, the prospect of batting again seemed like a daunting task for the weary England side.
