Hyderabad (TIP)- Ravindra Jadeja’s two-layered 50 and KL Rahul’s mastery were at the heart of India’s 421 for seven, a total which placed them several miles ahead of England after the second day’s play of the first Test here on Friday, January 26. Jadeja (81 batting) and Axar Patel (35 batting), who added 63 runs for the unbroken eighth-wicket stand, are at the crease at stumps. India’s lead has now swelled to 175 runs, and England would find it tough to wipe that out once their turn to bat comes on the third day.
But India’s ascendancy to the top on a slightly tacky pitch was more tectonic and Jadeja’s risk managing abilities played a huge role in it. In one sense, the situation was ideal for the left-hander, who loves a scrap in the middle. When Jadeja came to bat, Rahul was in full flight and he joined the party with a few blows of his own.
In fact, the initial 40 balls he faced produced 35 runs as India first closed the gap with England and then swiftly moved into the lead.
But Rahul’s dismissal for a 123-ball 86 forced Jadeja to transform his approach. India’s lead was still only 42 then, and the home side needed him to bat long to construct more floors above that fledgling foundation.
Jadeja did precisely that. He slowed down indeed, but not to that extent of confining himself into a shell and opened up whenever England bowlers erred in their lengths.
A daring hoick off left-arm spinner Tom Hartley over long-on for a six and a flowing off-drive off leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed for a four showcased his power and touch.
England bowlers were all in spirit and optimism while bowling and appealing throughout the day, but they lacked consistency in hitting the right spot, except Joe Root, who is more than a part-timer in these conditions.
It came as no surprise then that it was Root who put Jadeja in the most unpleasant situation during his knock. The spinner wrapped Jadeja’s pads and umpire Paul Reiffel upheld the shout for leg-before.
But the DRS found a massive inside edge as Jadeja survived at 49. He duly completed his 20th Test 50 in 84 balls when he peeled three runs off Root.
The only sore point during his otherwise assured stay was a calamitous mix-up which resulted in the run out of R Ashwin, as Jadeja sold a dummy, jogging a few steps before turning his back only to find his spin bowling partner standing right next to him.
Though KS Bharat (41, 81 balls) failed to kick on, the wicketkeeper batter helped Jadeja make 68 runs off 141 balls for the sixth wicket, which expanded India’s lead. But regret will linger inside Bharat, who recently made 100 against England Lions for India A, for he could not make his maiden Test 50 when the team was in a strong position and there was no real pressure on him. However, Bharat will not be the only India batter who will be nursing that feeling once they glance back at the day’s proceedings at the RGI Stadium. Source: PTI