India Vs England 2nd Test Match – Day Two Review: India in the dominating seat of the second Test after Ashwin’s Ton

It has been a fantastic turnaround for the home team in the second Test match. After the hammering in the first Test, India has displayed an all-round show till now. The hosts have used the conditions and the pitch to a better effect than England.

India managed 329 runs in the 1^st innings. They reached that score mainly because of Rohit Sharma, and Ajinkya Rahane’s 162 runs stand and then it was a late flourish from Risabh Pant. Rohit scored 161 runs, with Rahane and Pant slammed half-centuries to put the home team ahead of the visitors.

England couldn’t manage to tackle the spin and pace from the Indian bowlers. Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers. He picked up five wickets while Ishant, Axar, Siraj and Kuldeep provide excellent support to Ashwin.

India batted again before the stumps on day two. The hosts scored 54/1 with Rohit and Rahane at the crease. On day three, England made a mini-comeback by picking up wickets at regular intervals. England keeper-batsman Ben Foakes did a fare job behind the stumps.

The visitors didn’t miss their regular keeper Jos Buttler at all in this Test match. Foakes was so good with his glovework that England got vital scalps of Pujara, Rohit and Pant due to him. Cheteshwar Pujar was the first one to be dismissed in the morning session of day three. He was run out on seven runs.

Then it was Rohit and Risabh Pant who tried to force the issue by playing some big shots. But Foakes stumped both the batsmen off the bowling of Jack Leach. Still, India continued to lose crucial wickets as Rahane and Axar also fell cheaply to another England spinner Moeen Ali.

Then the partnership between Kohli and Ashwin brought the Indian innings on the right track. Ashwin was the smashing mode. He used the sweep and the many times the reverse sweep to good effect and even got dropped twice in the innings.

While the skipper showed a lot more patience and solid concentration in this innings, Kohli applied himself well after being out on a golden duck in 1^st innings. His application, defence, strike rotation and cashing into the loose balls helped India increase the lead.

India had lost five wickets with just 51 runs on the board. The partnership between Kohli and Ashwin allowed India to bounce back and extend the lead. Both the batsmen reached their half-centuries, and they were still trying to bat out the reaming overs as time is not the constrain in this test match.

Kohli was the first wicket to fall in the third session. Moeen Ali was the man who picked him up for the fifth time in Test cricket. Virat was caught plumb in front after the Indian captain tried to Ali on the back foot.

After Kohli’s dismissal on 62 runs, India still had Ashwin, looking to score his fifth Test century. Ashwin got the little support from Ishant Sharma, which brought Ash towards the three-figure mark. But Ishant was dismissed on seven by Jack Leach.

Then the last man, Mohd Siraj come in to bat with a local boy, Ashwin. Siraj was patient enough to block the deliveries till Ashwin reached his century, and every blocking of Siraj was hugely cheered by the crowd in Chennai. Swadeshi Samachar

The Chennai crowd wanted their local hero to get to the three-figure mark and Ashwin didn't do that in style, but he reached his fifth Test ton overall and his first Test hundred against England. It was a fantastic knock played buy the spin all-rounder of India. The knock was more special because he played it in front of his home crowd.

Even after Ashwin reached his century, India didn't declare. The bat on and piled more misery on the visiting team England. After defending many balls, Siraj too got in the act and smash two sixes. Siraj also survived a drop chance, which came after Ashwin’s ton.

Joe Root dropped Siraj. But it was Olly Pope who ended the Indian innings with the wicket of the centurion for India in the second innings. Pope clean bowled Ashwin for a brilliant knock of 106 runs. India scored 286 runs in their 2^nd innings and set a target of 482 runs.

England has a mammoth task ahead of them. The visitors need to chase the target down against Ashwin, Axar and Kuldeep. They again got off to a poor start, and the worse is that they have lost three quick wickets in one hour which they faced.

The second test match won't last for five days as India needs to pick up seven more wickets to level the series. Dom Sibley, Rory Burns and the night watchman Jack Leach were dismissed in this period, and the visitors need 429 runs to win.