Virat Kohli-led Indian cricket team once again failed to cash in on the good start as they let themselves down on the second day after an extremely promising opening day.
At the end of the first day’s game, England were reeling at 198 for 7. However, on the second day, Joe Root’s side bounced back and put up a mammoth total of 332 runs. Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad put up a crucial 98-run partnership for the ninth wicket as England scored 332 runs before getting bowled out.
England’s pacer duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad bowled a few quality spells when it was finally India’s turn to bat and denied them a good start. Broad gave England their first breakthrough by removing Shikhar Dhawan from the attack with a brilliant inswinger.
KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara tried to gave India a decent start by putting up a 64-run stand for second wickets. However, a beauty from Sam Curran broke Rahul Pujara’s partnership and after that India lost wickets on a regular interval as they scored 174 runs for the loss of six wickets at the end of second day’s game.
Here are the five talking points from Day Two:
1- KL Rahul achieves a unique feat
Though Indian opener KL Rahul was disappointing with the bat again in the second innings of the fifth Test match. He achieved a unique feat in the first innings of the final Test. KL Rahul took his 13th catch of this series on Saturday and in the process become the only fielder to achieve this feat in a series against England by surpassing Wally Hammond’s 12 catches in the 1934 Ashes.
KL Rahul’s 13 catches are also the joint-most by any Indian fielder. Other than KL Rahul, Rahul Dravid is the only Indian to achieve this feat. Rahul Dravid had taken 13 catches in 2004 against Australia.
2- Jos Buttler
Magnificent batsman Jos Buttler once again came to England’s rescue on Saturday. England were five wickets down when Buttler came to bat and soon Moeen Ali and Sam Curran also departed in a single over.
Indian pacers have rattled England’s batting line-up as the scoreboard read 181 for seven. Thereafter, Buttler beautifully counterattacked the visiting bowlers and took England to a respectable total of 332 by scoring a gritty 89 runs.
Jos Buttler was supported by Stuart Broad, who scored 38 runs as they went on to have a 98-run 9th wicket partnership.
3- England’s tailenders increase India’s worries again
In the fifth Test match, England’s tailender batsmen once again increased India’s worries. At the end of the first day’s game, England were at the back foot with seven wickets down for the mediocre target of 198 runs.
However, on the second day, England’s lower order batsman supported Jos Buttler as he put up 151-run stand with Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad and James Anderson respectively to take England to 332.
In the ongoing series, England’s tail batters have been one major headache for India. In the last five innings (0, 50, 63, 0, 98), England had put up 50 plus stand for the ninth wicket three times. Jos Buttler first put up a 33-run stand with Adil Rashid for 8th wicket and then 98 runs stand with Broad for the ninth wicket.
Jos Buttler also put up a 20-run stand with James Anderson for the lost wicket.
4- Indian openers fail again
After England scored 332 runs, India required to calm things down by a strong start from their openers. But once again openers failed in providing India a decent start as visiting team lost their first opener in the second over of the game. After Dhawan’s departure, KL Rahul played a flamboyant 37 runs innings and put up a 64-run stand with Cheteshwar Pujara.
However, Sam Curran trapped KL Rahul in front of the wickets as India lost both of their openers at the score of 60 runs.
Before the start of the ongoing match, there were talks to take chances with young Prithvi Shaw in the final Test match as India have nothing to lose. But Virat Kohli once again put his faith in KL Rahul and the 26-year-old cricketer failed in repaying his skipper’s faith.
5- India’s batting collapse
Though India lost one early wicket in the form of Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul and Pujara gave India a decent start as the scoreboard read 70 runs for one. But Sam Curran broke Pujara – Rahul’s partnership by removing Rahul from attack and soon India’s batting collapse as they finished the second day at the score of 174 runs for the loss of six wickets.