In the Dharamsala Test, things got a bit sleepy after India batted first. India finished the day at 473/8, leading by 255 runs. The top 5 Indian batsmen scored 2 centuries and 3 half-centuries. England’s bowlers, especially Shoaib Bashir with figures of 4/170, faced a tough time. The spin bowling coach, Jeetan Patel, described it as a physically challenging day.
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As the day progressed, England’s hopes dwindled. Even Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” playing on the public address system couldn’t inspire them. Zak Crawley’s fielding struggles added to England’s woes. The day ended with India in a strong position at 473/8, leading by 255 runs.
India’s top 5 showcased their batting prowess, with two centuries and three half-centuries. However, the excitement and quality of play dropped over the three sessions. The day’s play saw a decline in runs and wickets: 1st session – 129 runs, 0 wickets; 2nd session – 112 runs, 1 wicket; 3rd session – 97 runs, 5 wickets.
England’s planning and strategies couldn’t break through India’s solid batting performance. Despite Ben Stokes’ efforts, the pacers and unconventional field setups failed to yield results. The second session saw a drop in tempo and class, with Stokes bowling and getting Rohit Sharma out. The debutant Devdutt Padikkal and Sarfraz Khan, though edgy, showed glimpses of their potential with half-centuries.
Padikkal had a memorable debut, making runs in challenging situations. Sarfraz, known for his busy playing style, also made a point by taking on England’s fastest bowler with a six. Towards the end of the day, there were speculations about India declaring, but Captain Rohit Sharma and Coach Rahul Dravid opted to continue on Day 3 with a comfortable lead.
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India’s lower order couldn’t add many runs, leaving it to Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah to score 45 runs in the last 20 overs. The late-day scenario led to yawns in the stadium, with fans checking their phones as the match slowed down. It was a non-moving day, showcasing a defeated England and a dominant India sealing their victory. Saturday could be the last day of the series, with celebrations expected if India secures the win. For now, the latter part of Friday felt like watching paint dry.
