India vs England 1st Test Day2 Thriller at Leeds

India vs England 1st Test Day2 : Pope Century Powers England, But Bumrah’s Fiery 3-Wicket Burst Keeps India Alive

The first Test between India and England at Headingley, Leeds, is shaping up to be a cracker. On June 21, 2025, day 2 of this five match series saw intense battles, with Ollie Pope’s unbeaten century giving England a fighting chance, while Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery bowling kept India firmly in the game. Let’s break down the eventful day.

Day 2 Morning: India’s Batting Continues

India resumed on 359/3, with Gill and Pant looking to build. The pair added 71 runs for the fourth wicket, taking India to 430. Gill played with elegance, timing the ball beautifully through the covers. His 147 off 227 balls included 19 fours and a six, a captain’s knock that set the tone. He fell to Shoaib Bashir, caught by Josh Tongue at deep square leg, trying to accelerate.

Karun Nair, making a Test comeback after seven years, had a brief stay, out for a duck to Stokes, caught by Pope at short cover. Ravindra Jadeja joined Pant, and the duo pushed the score past 450. Pant was in his element, smashing 12 fours and 6 sixes in his 134 off 178 balls. His aggressive style kept England’s bowlers under pressure, but Josh Tongue trapped him lbw, ending a brilliant knock.

The lower order crumbled quickly. Shardul Thakur (1), Jasprit Bumrah (0), and Prasidh Krishna (2) fell in quick succession, with Jadeja the last man out for 11. India was all out for 471 in 113 overs. Stokes and Tongue led England’s bowling, each taking four wickets, while Carse and Bashir chipped in with one each.

Batting		R	B	M	4s	6s	SR
Yashasvi Jaiswal	b Stokes	101	159	239	16	1	63.52
KL Rahul	c Root b Carse	42	78	109	8	0	53.84
Sai Sudharsan	c †Smith b Stokes	0	4	4	0	0	0.00
Shubman Gill (c)	c Tongue b Shoaib Bashir	147	227	348	19	1	64.75
Rishabh Pant	lbw b Tongue	134	178	251	12	6	75.28
Karun Nair	c Pope b Stokes	0	4	13	0	0	0.00
Ravindra Jadeja	b Tongue	11	15	35	2	0	73.33
Shardul Thakur	c †Smith b Stokes	1	8	5	0	0	12.50
Jasprit Bumrah	c Brook b Tongue	0	5	7	0	0	0.00
Mohammed Siraj	not out	3	7	13	0	0	42.85
Prasidh Krishna	b Tongue	1	3	3	0	0	33.33
Extras	(b 1, lb 14, nb 9, w 2, pen 5)	31
Total	113 Ov (RR: 4.16)	471

Bowling	O	M	R	W	ECON	WD	NB
Chris Woakes	24	4	103	0	4.29	0	4
Brydon Carse	22	5	96	1	4.36	1	3
Josh Tongue	20	0	86	4	4.30	0	1
Ben Stokes	20	2	66	4	3.30	1	1
Shoaib Bashir	27	6	100	1	3.70	0	0

England’s Response: Early Jitters

England began their innings needing 471 to match India. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett opened, but Jasprit Bumrah struck in the first over. Crawley, on 4, edged a stunning out swinger to Karun Nair at slip, leaving England at 4/1. Bumrah’s pace and movement were unplayable.

Pope and Duckett Fight Back

Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope steadied the ship, adding 122 runs for the second wicket. Duckett played fluently, scoring 62 off 94 balls with 9 fours, punishing anything loose. Pope, at the other end, showed great composure, picking gaps with precision. Their partnership frustrated India’s bowlers, who struggled to find breakthroughs.

Just when England looked comfortable, Bumrah struck again. A full-length ball outside off found Duckett’s inside edge, clipping the top of off stump. Duckett walked off, shaking his head, as Bumrah celebrated his second wicket.

Bumrah’s Third Strike

Joe Root joined Pope, and the pair added 80 runs. Root, on 28 off 58 balls, looked to consolidate, but Bumrah had other plans. A probing delivery outside off induced an edge, and Nair took a sharp catch at first slip. It was Bumrah’s third wicket, and his 10th dismissal of Root in Tests, underlining his dominance over the England star.

Pope’s Century

Ollie Pope remained unfazed, reaching his century off 131 balls with 13 fours. His knock was a blend of patience and aggression, anchoring England’s innings. He navigated Bumrah’s fiery spells and the spin of Jadeja with ease, giving England a solid platform.

Harry Brook, who came in after Root’s dismissal, faced a torrid time. Bumrah tested him with bouncers and yorkers, nearly dismissing him in the final over. A short ball had Brook fending awkwardly, and Mohammed Siraj took a brilliant catch, but Bumrah had overstepped. The no ball cost India a fourth wicket, and England survived to stumps at 209/3, trailing by 262 runs.

Bowling	O	M	R	W	ECON	WD	NB
Jasprit Bumrah	13	2	48	3	3.69	0	4
Mohammed Siraj	14	0	50	0	3.57	0	1
Prasidh Krishna	10	0	56	0	5.60	1	0
Ravindra Jadeja	9	2	25	0	2.77	0	0
Shardul Thakur	3	0	23	0	7.66	0	2

Bumrah’s Impact

Jasprit Bumrah was the star for India, finishing with 3/48 in 13 overs. His ability to swing the ball both ways and generate pace troubled England’s batsmen. Despite the no ball incident, his performance kept India in the hunt. Other bowlers, including Jadeja (0/25 in 9 overs) and Prasidh Krishna (0/56 in 10 overs), struggled to make an impact.

Looking Ahead

With England at 209/3, day 3 will be crucial. Pope and Brook will look to build on their platform, while India’s bowlers, led by Bumrah, will aim for early wickets. The pitch remains good for batting, but any assistance for the bowlers could tilt the balance. This Test is finely poised, promising more excitement for cricket fans.

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Sources : ESPNcricinfo , ICC

Also Read : India vs England Test Opener: Jaiswal & Gill’s Centuries Spark New Era at Headingley