5th Test
Day-2 Evening Session Highlights:
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were the stars for team India on the second day of the Dharamsala Test
At the stumps of Day-2:
India scored 473/8, where as New Zealand scored 218 All Out.
So, finally India lead by 255 runs
Centuries from Shubman Gill (110) and Rohit Sharma (103) anchored a commanding second day for India in the Dharamsala Test, their partnership of 171 runs brimming with masterful strokes.
The hosts concluded the day at 473/8, boasting a formidable lead of 255 runs.
Gill and Sharma established dominance in an exhilarating morning session, propelling India to 129 runs without conceding a wicket.
Each batter showcased their trademark strokes with finesse; Rohit’s pulls and cuts were prominent, while Shubman Gill’s unconventional short-arm jabs against pace and graceful lofts against spin added flair to the proceedings.
England required a remarkable effort to break the partnership, and it arrived courtesy of their skipper, Ben Stokes, who delivered a gem off his first ball of the series.
The nearly unplayable delivery dismantled a well-set Rohit.
In the following over, James Anderson dismissed Gill with an inswinging delivery, showcasing the duo’s prowess in reverse swing.
England’s prospects of limiting India’s lead surged with these breakthroughs.
However, the home side soon forged another significant partnership.
Making his debut, Devdutt Padikkal (65) unleashed a counter-attacking fifty, complemented by Sarfaraz Khan’s (56) brisk half-century, bolstering India’s position further.
The duo amassed 97 runs from just 131 deliveries, with Sarfaraz notably accelerating his innings once settled.
He punished the spinners ruthlessly and showcased audacious strokeplay against the pacers.
Meanwhile, Padikkal initiated his innings with a flurry of boundaries, displaying the elegant flair characteristic of a left-hander.
As the tea break approached, both batsmen seemed poised for centuries.
However, England struck back emphatically after the interval.
Shoaib Bashir lured a soft shot from Sarfaraz before dismissing Padikkal with a sensational delivery.
Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja put up a brief resistance before Shoaib Bashir struck again in successive overs, denting India’s progress.
Tom Hartley then marred Ravichandran Ashwin’s 100th Test from a batting standpoint by dismissing him for a duck.
Once more, the visitors aimed to wrap up proceedings swiftly and narrow the deficit.
However, Kuldeep Yadav (27*) and Jasprit Bumrah (19*) combined forces to stubbornly resist, forming a partnership that has now defied the English attack for 108 deliveries.
Although the surface offered some assistance to the spinners, it remained largely favorable for batting.
India’s formidable collective batting display has potentially extended their lead to a point where England faces an uphill battle.
With a deficit of over 250 runs, only two wickets in hand, and three full days remaining, Ben Stokes’ side must conjure something extraordinary to avoid a defeat in Dharamsala.
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