India vs England 2nd Test, Day 1 highlights: Yashasvi Jaiswal 179, India 336/6 at stumps

In the second test match against England in Visakhapatnam, India on February 2, 2024, Dr. Y.S. Started on the field. Rajasekhara Reddy ACV-VDCA Cricket Stadium. Thanks to young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s brilliant unbeaten century of 179 runs, India scored 336/6 on the first day. Akshar Patel also made a valuable contribution of 43 runs, while KS Bharat scored 17 runs to take India to this commendable score.

Jaiswal Century 

Jaiswal was the clear standout performer of the day, exhibiting composure and maturity in crafting a magnificent century. He began his innings cautiously, patiently negotiating the early swing offered by the English bowlers and eventually finding his rhythm. Throughout his innings, he hit 17 fours and five sixes, showcasing a wide range of strokes and exceptional timing.

The Indian cricket team’s young opener received support from his teammates throughout the day. Shubman Gill gave them a good start by scoring 34 runs, while Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer made crucial contributions with scores of 42 and 24 runs respectively. However, it was Jaiswal’s long innings that held the Indian innings together. He took advantage of loose deliveries and punished the bowlers with his powerful shots, especially those that hit a square of the wicket.

Jaiswal was the star performer with the bat, but England’s bowlers managed to take wickets at regular intervals. The debutant Rehan Ahmed impressed everyone with his leg spin and picked up two wickets, including the crucial dismissal of Pujara. Jack Leach also contributed with two wickets, while James Anderson and Ollie Robinson managed to take one wicket each. However, despite their successes, England could not create sustained pressure on the Indian batsmen because of Jaiswal’s impressive innings.

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Partnerships Provide Support Despite Wicket Tumbles 

India’s win was largely due to the star performance of Jaiswal, but the contributions of other batsmen also played a crucial role in building a strong total. Shubman Gill (28) and Cheteshwar Pujara (23) provided decent starts at the top, with Shreyas Iyer (34) and Axar Patel (30) playing useful cameos in the middle order. Although England’s bowlers did manage to take wickets at regular intervals, with Rehan Ahmed (2/62) and Shoaib Bashir (2/54) being the most successful, Jaiswal’s anchoring innings ensured that India remained in control of the day’s proceedings.

England Seek Early Breakthroughs on Day 2 

On Day 2, England will try to recover and put pressure on the Indian batsmen early on. The pitch has been batting-friendly but it has also shown signs of assisting the spinners later in the day. James Anderson and Stuart Broad, England’s veteran pace bowlers, will aim to exploit any swing available in the morning, while Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed will look to trouble the batsmen with their spin. If England can take early wickets, they could get back in the game. However, if Jaiswal continues his good form and India scores quick runs early on, the hosts could be in a dominant position.

Can India Build a Big Total? 

With Jaiswal well set and the lower-order batsmen showing their ability to contribute, India will be aiming to build a big total on Day 2. A score above 450 would put them in a dominant position and give their bowlers something to defend. However, England’s bowling attack is experienced and capable of taking wickets in clusters. The battle between Jaiswal’s form and England’s bowling attack will be key to deciding the course of the match on Day 2.

The second Test’s Day 1 was dominated by India, thanks to Jaiswal’s outstanding century. Nevertheless, the match is still ongoing, and England will be eager to make a strong comeback on Day 2. It will be interesting to see if India can take advantage of their good start and build a significant score, or if England can fight their way back into the game.