IND vs ENG: Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan slam fifties in Dharamsala; India extend lead past 250

India fortified their position in the ongoing Dharamsala Test, pushing their lead to an impressive 255 runs at stumps on day 2. The day saw noteworthy performances from Devdutt Padikkal and Sarfaraz Khan, who both notched up half-centuries, although they fell short of converting these starts into centuries.

Despite the strong showing, India's momentum experienced a hiccup as they slipped from a comfortable 376/3 to 428/8. This stumble could have brought curtains down on the Indian innings on day 2 itself but the resilience of Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah in the later stages thwarted England's attempts to capitalize further. Their stubborn 45* run partnership for the ninth wicket proved to be a thorn in England's side.

The performances of Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal were highlights of the post-lunch session, demonstrating skill and determination until their respective dismissals. Sarfaraz's exit, right after tea for 56 runs, gave England a glimmer of hope, leading to India losing a cluster of wickets in quick succession.

Debutant Padikkal was sent back to the pavilion by Shoaib Bashir after crafting a commendable 65 runs. The subsequent batters, including Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin, however, were unable to make significant contributions.

The late partnership between Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah though injected more frustration for England, with the duo steadfast in their defiance as India reached 473/8 at the end of the day.

The match had already tilted in India's favor earlier in the day, thanks to centuries from openers Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma, which laid a solid foundation for India's commanding position. Their centuries heaped misery on the England team, setting the stage for India's subsequent batsmen to build on their formidable lead.