India faces a stern test against a formidable English side after a heartbreaking defeat in the first Test. The second test of the exciting series is in progress. Skipper Rohit Sharma elected to bat first on a typical Indian surface in Vishakhapatnam. India made three changes from the first test with seniors KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja ruled out and pacer Mohammed Siraj was rested citing workload despite the pacer bowling just 11 overs in the first test. India handed a debut cap to Rajat Patidar while Kuldeep Yadav and Mukesh Kumar made a return to the playing 11. But all eyes will be on the Indian Batting and Shubman Gill who has been in poor form off late.
After a historic win in the first test, England looks to continue the momentum during the second test against the hosts India. England named their playing 11 a day before the game. Veteran Pacer James Anderson returned to the playing 11 after missing out in the first while 20-year-old off-spinner Shoaib Bashir debuted for England.
India started the innings cautiously with England bowlers bowling tight lines, especially Anderson who gave away just six runs in his five overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal continued to shine but Skipper Rohit Sharma went into a shell and fell to a harmless delivery on the leg from debutant Shoaib Bashir glancing it straight into the hands of Ollie Pope stationed at leg slip.
Shubman Gill wastes yet another start
Shubman Gill walked into bat in the 18th over after the Indian Skipper’s dismissal. This innings was critical for Gill who has not registered a single score above fifty since his century against the Aussies in March 2023 and he couldn’t have asked for a better surface to make it count.
Shubman Gill looked more assured with his footwork and batted positively unlike his previous innings where he just looked to defend. He scored his first boundary on the sixth delivery he faced on a full toss off Tom Hartley. Gill looked to rotate the strike and played with more certainty.
Shubman Gill looked to accelerate his innings with a flurry of boundaries just 20 minutes before the lunch break. The first boundary, a bit fortuitous, is deflected through a deep third off James Anderson’s bowling. The next two, facing Shoaib Bashir, showcase Gill’s class—a powerful slog-sweep behind square and a crisp cover drive as Bashir adjusted his line.
However, Anderson returned in his next over and got the better of the Indian youngster. The first ball of the over induced a genuine nick, but the lack of slips allowed the ball to race to the third-man boundary. Yet, Anderson hits the seam again, this time on a slightly wider line, Gill prods forward, and Ben Foakes takes a flying catch diving to his right. Gill will be gutted with this dismissal as this was one of the better batting conditions you will get in the Indian conditions. Gill might get dropped from the third test with the likes of Sarfaraz Khan waiting in the squad and with seniors Virat Kohli and KL Rahul potentially returning to the squad.
Trivia
This is the fifth time Anderson has got the better of Shubman Gill in 7 innings the two players faced each other. Gill currently averages 7.8 runs against Anderson scoring just 39 runs off the seasoned campaigner.
Looking Ahead in the Test Match
The surface is not offering much for the bowlers and India will look to capitalize and look for a big first innings. But for that to happen the the weakened Indian batting lineup needs to step up and play well. Meanwhile, England bowlers stuck to basics bowling tight lines and making it hard for the Indian batters to score. England will look to pick a couple more wickets before the tea and put pressure on the Indian middle and lower order.