Birmingham, July 2 (UNI) England skipper Ben Stokes’ decision to bowl first paid off partially as the hosts dismissed KL Rahul and Karun Nair in the first session, but opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s attacking half-century lifted India to 98 for 2 at lunch on Day 1 of the second Test at Edgbaston.
After Rahul fell early for 2, bowled by Chris Woakes in the 9th over, India recovered through a fluent 80-run partnership between Jaiswal and Karun Nair. However, just when Nair looked set, Brydon Carse produced a fiery short ball that forced him into a fend, resulting in a catch to second slip. Nair departed for 31 off 50 balls (5x4s), giving England a crucial breakthrough just before the break.
Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 62 off just 69 deliveries, cracking 11 boundaries and dominating the English bowlers with a mix of flair and control. His innings featured a flurry of strokes including consecutive boundaries off Josh Tongue and composed drives through the covers. The left-hander reached his fifty in style, slashing a short and wide delivery over backward point.
India’s innings started briskly with Jaiswal punishing early looseners from Woakes and Carse, before taking on Tongue with a string of boundaries between overs 15 and 22. Karun too played some elegant drives, especially off Tongue and Woakes, but his innings ended in dramatic fashion when Carse banged one short into his body, forcing a glove to the slip cordon.
Woakes was England’s most economical bowler, returning figures of 1 for 15 in 7 overs, while Carse took 1 for 14 in 6 overs. Tongue went for 42 in 6, struggling with his line and length. Stokes and off-spinner Shoaib Bashir bowled with discipline but went wicketless.
India still has considerable depth in batting, with Shubman Gill (1 not out) at the crease with Jaiswal, and the likes of Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar to follow. The match, part of the five-Test India tour of England 2025, runs through July 6.
India made three changes to the playing XI, resting star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, and bringing in Sundar, Akash Deep, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
