Birmingham, July 2 (UNI) Yashasvi Jaiswal’s brilliant 87 and a counter-attacking stand between Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant steered India to 182 for 3 at tea on Day 1 of the second Test against England at Edgbaston on Wednesday.
Jaiswal looked well on course for a century with a flurry of 13 boundaries, but fell against the run of play in the 46th over, caught behind off Ben Stokes after bottom-edging a wide delivery. The left-hander stood in disbelief before walking off, his aggressive knock coming off 107 balls. His dismissal at 161 broke a key partnership and gave England renewed energy in the middle session.
Rishabh Pant (14 not out off 28) made an immediate impact, dancing down the track to smash Shoaib Bashir for a six over long-on.
Gill, who had earlier survived a big lbw shout and a failed review off Brydon Carse, grew in confidence during the session, reaching 42 not out at tea with boundaries off Woakes and Bashir. His footwork against the spinners and calculated risks paid off, including a lofted four over mid-off and delicate steers past slip.
The session began with England applying pressure after lunch, but a mixture of Indian flair and poor lines from England’s pacers allowed the visitors to score at a steady 3.43 runs per over. Jaiswal, earlier in the innings, had punished loose deliveries with surgical precision, steering, cutting and driving with style, particularly against Carse and Tongue.
Carse, however, gave England their second breakthrough just before lunch, when he banged one short into Karun Nair’s body, forcing a fending edge to the slips. Nair made 31 off 50 with 5 fours after an 80-run second-wicket stand with Jaiswal.
Earlier in the morning, Chris Woakes struck first blood, dismissing KL Rahul for 2 in the 9th over, while Stokes and Carse took a wicket each. Josh Tongue continued to be expensive. Bashir kept a tighter line but couldn’t break through.
India, trailing 0-1 in the five-match series, made three changes, bringing in Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, and Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of Jasprit Bumrah and others.
Score Summary at Tea: India 182/3 in 53 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 87, Karun Nair 31, Shubman Gill 42 not out, Rishabh Pant 14Not Out; Woakes 1/35, Carse 1/26, Stokes 1/33); England won the toss and opted to bowl.
