Twitter Reactions: Jadeja-Rahul star as complete batting performance put India in the driver’s seat on Day 2

Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. (Photo Source: BCCI)

India further stamped their authority on England during Day 2 of the first Test at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad as they extended their lead to 175 finishing on 421/7 at stumps. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 81* along with Axar Patel 35* as their unbeaten 63-run stand took India to stumps. Earlier in the day, KL Rahul also played a classy knock of 86 (123).

The Rohit Sharma-led side resumed their innings on 119/1 with YashasvI Jaiswal (76*) and Shubman Gill (14*) at the crease. The day didn’t begin well for the hosts as Joe Root got the prized scalp of Jaiswal in the first over of the day catching him off his own delivery. As a result, the southpaw missed out on a well-deserved hundred and got dismissed for 80 (74).

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Shubman Gill (23 off 66) also lost his wicket after falling prey to debutant Tom Hartley as his first Test wicket. Following his dismissal, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer (35 off 63) got involved in a 64-run stand for the fourth wicket to take India’s total past 200 and closer to England’s first-innings score.

England struck post-lunch as Iyer holed out to deep mid-wicket against Rehan Ahmed. His dismissal brought Ravindra Jadeja to the crease, who took on the spinners early on his innings. Jadeja and Rahul began attacking England in the second session as India surpassed their first innings score.

The duo put on a 65-run stand for the fifth wicket off just 74 balls taking the lead to 42 in no time. However, England were once again gifted a wicket as Rahul pulled a half-tracker from Hartley straight to Rehan Ahmed at deep mid-wicket and missed out on a well-deserved hundred (86 off 123).

Axar Patel attacked in the ending stages of the day

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KS Bharat walked in at number seven and took some time to find the timing scoring just ten from his first 44 balls. However, he steadily found his rhythm and put on the second 68-run stand of the innings further piling on the misery on England. Bharat (41 off 81) missed out on his first half-century in Tests as he got trapped in front by Joe Root.

At the other end, Ravindra Jadeja registered his 20th half-century in Tests and remained unbeaten on 81* at stumps along with Axar Patel (35* off 62). Tom Hartley (2/131) and Joe Root (2/77) were the pick of the bowlers for England on Day 2.

Meanwhile, X was abuzz with reactions on another dominant day’s play by India. Here are some of the posts: