Captain Rohit Sharma, along with Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, and Sarfaraz Khan, propelled India into a dominant position on the Day 2 of the fifth Test at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA) in Dharamshala on March 8.
Rohit, Gill roar with centuries
Following their commanding batting display, India have established a 255-run lead with more runs potentially on the board, positioning themselves as the clear favorites to clinch a resounding win at the scenic HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala and secure the Anthony D’Mello Trophy with a 4-1 series win.
Resuming at an overnight score of 135/1, Rohit and Gill contributed 103 and 110 respectively, amassing 171 runs for the second wicket and steering India into a commanding position. Towards the day's end, Kuldeep Yadav (27 not out) and Jasprit Bumrah (19 not out) kept India in the game with two wickets in hand, despite a brief falter in the evening session, by holding firm with an ongoing ninth-wicket partnership now valued at 45 runs.
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Sarfaraz and Padikkal fell short of centuries
Devdutt Padikkal, stepping in for Rajat Patidar in the Indian lineup, formed a robust 97-run partnership with Sarfaraz Khan. Khan, marking his third fifty of the series with a spirited 56, helped India regain momentum following the consecutive dismissals of Rohit and Gill.
Sarfaraz, ablaze with runs until the tea interval, was the initial dismissal in the last session, falling to Shoaib Bashir on the first delivery post-tea for a commendable 56 off 60 balls. Padikkal followed suit, undone by a stunning delivery from Bashir, bowled for 65 off 103 balls. Unfortunately, both Khan and Padikkal missed achieving their well-earned centuries. The subsequent trio of recognized batsmen contributed little, with Dhruv Jurel (15 off 24), Ravindra Jadeja (15 off 50), and Ravichandran Ashwin (0 off 5) all being dismissed within eight deliveries. Bashir claimed Jurel's wicket, while Hartley took down the latter two in a single over, as England's spinners made significant inroads into the Indian batting lineup.
Nonetheless, Kuldeep and Bumrah displayed prudent batting to stave off England following the departure of those five wickets. Their partnership lasted 18 overs, crucially preventing any further losses by the day's end. India concluded Day 2 of the 5th Test at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala at 473/8 in 120 overs, extending their first-innings lead to a formidable 255 runs. During the final session, India added 97 runs in 36 overs at the expense of 5 wickets. England's bowling efforts were spearheaded by Shoaib Bashir, who claimed four wickets but gave away 170 runs over 35 overs, while another spinner from the team managed to secure two wickets.
Ashwin bags unwanted feat
Ravichandran Ashwin entered an exclusive group of players who have been dismissed for a duck in their 100th Test match, a list that includes Dilip Vengsarkar, Allan Border, Courtney Walsh, Mark Taylor, Stephen Fleming, Alastair Cook, Brendon McCullum, and Cheteshwar Pujara.
India had earlier dismissed England for a mere 218, with the Indian spin trio - Kuldeep Yadav (5/72), Ravichandran Ashwin (4/51), and Ravindra Jadeja (1/17) - claiming all 10 wickets. Despite a strong start led by Zak Crawley's 79, England's innings folded quickly, plummeting from 175/3 to all out at 218. Ashwin, in his 100th Test appearance alongside Jonny Bairstow in Dharamsala, took the final four wickets, exacerbating England's collapse.
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