On the second day of the first Test in Hyderabad, India asserted their dominance over England, concluding the day with a formidable score of 421/7, thereby extending their lead to 175 runs. The spotlight shone brightly on Ravindra Jadeja, who once again validated his status as the world's top-ranked all-rounder, remaining unbeaten as the day came to a close. His stellar performance, coupled with significant contributions from KS Bharat (41) and Axar Patel (35*), propelled India beyond the 400-run threshold before play ended.
The day belonged to India from the start, with KL Rahul's masterful batting display setting the tone, despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's exit at 80. Although Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer were unable to capitalize on their starts, Rahul's crucial innings of 86 laid a solid foundation for the team. Following Rahul's departure, Jadeja took the helm, guiding the lower batting order with a strategy that emphasised the value of his wicket. His efforts further entrenched India's commanding position in the match.
Jadeja's leadership ensured that India continued to build on their advantage, leaving England searching for answers. The partnership between Jadeja and Axar, which has already yielded 63 runs, promises to extend India's lead even further, setting the stage for potentially more challenges for the visiting team on day 3.