In a display of dominance, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill's centuries propelled India to a commanding position on Day 2 of the 5th Test against England. Despite late strikes by Bashir and Tom Hartley, India ended the day at 473 for 8, extending their lead to 255 runs.
Rohit and Gill's Partnership
Rohit and Gill set the tone early in the day, with aggressive strokeplay that left the England bowlers struggling to find their rhythm. Both batsmen reached their centuries, with Rohit scoring 103 and Gill 110, maintaining India's stronghold on the game.
England's Efforts and India's Response
Facing England's short-ball strategy, Rohit and Gill remained unfazed as they continued to dominate the bowling attack. Even as England managed to make some breakthroughs, debutant Devdutt Padikkal and Sarfaraz Khan steadied the innings with a crucial 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Padikkal's Debut
Padikkal impressed on his Test debut, scoring a half-century and becoming the second Indian to achieve this feat at No. 4 after Gundappa Viswanath in 1969. However, his dismissal by Bashir halted India's momentum momentarily.
Late Resistance by Yadav and Bumrah
As wickets fell in quick succession towards the end of the day, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah showed resilience with an unbeaten 45-run stand. Yadav, in particular, displayed determination with the bat after his impressive performance with the ball in the previous match.
Despite some late setbacks, India's dominant performance on Day 2 puts them in a strong position going into the remainder of the Test match. With a substantial lead and contributions from multiple players, India will aim to further extend their advantage in the coming days.