All of India’s batters, barring Ravichandran Ashwin, had got starts, but KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja went to smash half-centuries to help India grab first-innings lead of 175 runs, ending Day Two of the first innings at 421/7 in 110 overs.
At the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, India began Day Two with 127 runs behind England’s 246 and lost Yashasvi Jaiswal for 80 in the opening over. Rahul slammed his 14th Test fifty to top score with 86 off 123 balls, combining patience, poise and good-looking ten boundaries while keeping the scoreboard moving.
Jadeja then took over the scoring mantle to make his 20th Test fifty and be 81 not out off 155 balls at the end of Day Two. He hit nine delightful boundaries while stitching an unbroken partnership of 63 off 117 balls for the eighth wicket with Axar Patel (35 not out off 62 balls) to extend India’s lead well beyond 150.
