The game of cricket, often described as a battle of wits and patience, once again proved unpredictable as England’s aggressive “Bazball” approach could not overturn the tides in the second Test against India. In the bustling city of Visakhapatnam, the English side had a mountain to climb on day four but fell short by 106 runs, allowing India to draw the series 1-1 with an authoritative victory.
With anticipation hanging in the air, England resumed the day at 67 for the loss of just one wicket, with an eye on what would have been a record-breaking run chase of 332 runs in their Test cricket history. India, determined to change their fortunes after a defeat in the series opener, came out with a disciplined strategy.
The English side’s bid for glory saw a promising start as Zak Crawley and the young nighthawk Rehan Ahmed looked to establish a solid foundation with a partnership of 45 runs for the second wicket. However, their hopes began to waver when luck swayed in the home team’s favor. Axar Patel, India’s shrewd left-arm spinner, claimed the all-important breakthrough by trapping Rehan Ahmed before the stumps, slowing down the visitors’ charge.
India’s premier spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, soon joined the party, showcasing his mastery over the craft by dismissing the star of the previous Test, Ollie Pope. As the crowd erupted, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma took a remarkable catch at first slip, further tightening the grip on the game.
The gritty Joe Root, nursing an injury and despite being in discomfort, joined the middle with a fighting spirit, hitting a reverse sweep to the boundary on the very first delivery he faced. However, his daring did not last long as Ashwin continued to weave his magic, eventually claiming Root’s wicket and dealing a significant blow to England’s hopes.
With the scorecard reading a far-from-ideal picture for the tourists, Jonny Bairstow and captain Ben Stokes stepped up to the crease, throwing a few punches in an effort to swing the momentum back in England’s favor. Yet their resistance was short-lived. Bairstow fell victim to a precise delivery from Jasprit Bumrah, which caught him plumb in front, while Stokes was caught in a moment of misfortune, run out by a direct hit from Shreyas Iyer.
As England reeled at 220/7, the pendulum had swung decisively in India’s direction. Nonetheless, Ben Foakes, alongside Tom Hartley, gave a glimpse of defiance with a composed 55-run partnership, delaying the inevitable and showcasing the fighting spirit that has come to be associated with English cricket.
However, it was Bumrah, India’s pace spearhead, who was summoned by the captain to quell the late resistance. Casting aside doubts about his form, Bumrah delivered with a cunning slower ball that Foakes tamely returned for a simple catch back to the bowler – dashing any lingering English hopes of an improbable win.
The final nail in the coffin was delivered by debutant Mukesh Kumar, who notched his maiden Test wicket by dismissing Shoaib Bashir. Bumrah, thriving in the winning moments, shattered Hartley’s stumps to conclude his enterprising innings and seal the win for the hosts.
With this emphatic victory, the Indian team sent a loud and clear message: India’s prowess at home is not easily overcome. The series, now intriguingly poised at 1-1, heads into the next Test match with both teams eager to take control. England’s search for their historical run chase will have to wait, as Visakhapatnam hosted a day where Indian resilience shone and rewrote the ending of what could have been an English cricketing fairytale.
