During the second day's second session in Vizag, India's Jasprit Bumrah delivered a spellbinding performance against England, securing crucial wickets of Joe Root and Ollie Pope in quick succession right after lunch. Bumrah's devastating outswinger sent Root back to the pavilion, followed by a precise yorker that demolished Pope's stumps in the 28th over, marking the fifth time Bumrah has claimed Pope in their last 10 encounters. Pope's dismissal was particularly significant considering his impressive 196-run innings in the first Test in Hyderabad, which played a pivotal role in England's performance.
Jasprit Bumrah's searing spell puts India in the driver's seat
This spell pushed England into a deep crisis, as they lost their fourth wicket in the session, destabilising their batting lineup. Earlier, Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal achieved his maiden double century, propelling India to a first-innings score of 396. Jaiswal reached the milestone with a dynamic six and a four off Shoaib Bashir's bowling, standing out as the primary contributor amidst a general batting collapse.
England's response started on a positive note but soon faltered, losing quick wickets after a promising opening stand of fifty runs. Zak Crawley's dismissal, resulting from an ill-judged attempt at a big hit, marked the beginning of a downturn for England, leading to consecutive losses including the key wickets of Root and Pope.
The social media was in overdrive after Bumrah's magical delivery stunned Pope.
By the Tea break, England had stabilised slightly, ending the session at 155/4 after 33 overs, without losing more wickets. Besides Bumrah's significant contributions, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav also took the wickets of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of India's bowling attack.
As the day progressed, England found themselves trailing by 241 runs, contending with a pitch that began exhibiting inconsistent bounce—some deliveries unexpectedly rising from a good length, while others remained low, challenging the batsmen's adaptability.
This turn of events underscores the dynamic nature of the match, with India leveraging its bowling strengths to dismantle England's batting order and setting the stage for a potentially decisive Indian lead.
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