Vijay Raman
- Jan 27
- 3 min read

IND vs ENG, 1st Test, Day 2: Rahul 86, Jadeja 81* take India 175 runs ahead

India vs England, 1st Test, Day 2: KL Rahul 86, Ravindra Jadeja's 81* take India to 175 runs ahead in Hyderabad Test. Session wise highlights of Day 2.

India vs England, 1st Test, Day 2: KL Rahul 86, Ravindra Jadeja's 81 gave India 176 run lead Walking Wicket (Images_ ©BCCI_Twitter) — India vs England: Rahul-Jadeja's had 64 run partnership on Day 2 (Images: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Brief Scores: IND 421/7 (Rahul 86, Jadeja 81*, Root 2/72) lead ENG 246 (Stokes 70, Ashwin 3/68, Jadeja 3/88) by 175 runs.

At the close of Day 2 in Hyderabad, India are placed in a dominating position thanks to a great batting display by KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja who scored half-centuries respectively, taking India’s 1st innings total to 421/7, giving themselves a commanding 175-run lead.

Talking points from the 1st Test, 2nd Day

India’s lower-order batting, especially in the home conditions has been a boon and they proved it once again in this innings. While the top-order batters did get starts, none barring KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal made it past 50. Once again, the act of increasing India’s lead and asserting dominance fell on the lower middle-order and Ravindra Jadeja in the able company of KS Bharat, followed by Axar Patel. They helped the home team into a position of strength.

Resurgent KL Rahul steadies India in the first session on Day 2

Starting the day at 119/1 and still 127 behind England, India lost their overnight set batter Yashasvi Jaiswal for 80 on the 4th ball of the day to Joe Root. This brought KL Rahul into the crease and the right-hander started in his usual style. He was tentative at the start but struck a slew of boundaries to get his innings going.

On the other hand, Shubman Gill continued to grind but ultimately fell to a loose shot when on 23 in a knock that is unlike him. Rahul went from strength to strength during the session as he along with Shreyas Iyer brought up their 50-run stand and went to lunch at 222/3. The major highlight of the session has to be KL Rahul’s stroke-filled half-century.

India vs England, 1st Test, Day 2_ KL Rahul batted at number 4 and scored 86 for India | Walking Wicket (Images_ ©BCCI_Twitter) — Rahul batted at no. 4 and scored 86 for India (Images: ©BCCI/Twitter)

India ascends to the lead thanks to Rahul and Jadeja

Just as in the previous session, India lost a wicket shortly after the break when Iyer perished playing a big shot and giving away his wicket to Rehan Ahmed. Just as the English team would have envisioned a batting collapse, the pair of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja made sure India continued their ascendency in the game.

The duo added 65 runs for the 5th wicket as India went past the visitor's tally in the 1st innings. KL Rahul who looked set for yet another century departed while playing a loose stroke much like his compatriots after a well-made 86. Despite this, India looked solid at the end of 2nd session as the team total went past the 300-run mark.

Hosts built a solid lead in the final session of play

Even as the run scoring dropped following the departure of Rahul in the 2nd session, keeper batter KS Bharat came with a more positive approach during post Tea session as he and Jadeja increased the pace once again. While Jadeja notched up his 20th half-century in Tests, Bharat played the aggressive role making 41 off the 68-runs shared between the duo. Joe Root, who looked the most threatening of English spinners broke the stand when he struck Bharat in front and Ashwin through the way of run out.

However, Jadeja who was joined by his fellow left-arm spinner Axar Patel at the crease, steadily extended India’s lead with their unbroken 63-run stand as India finished at 421/7.

What’s to come

India have seemingly taken control of the game after gaining a significant lead in the 1st innings. While the hosts will look to bat England out of the contest by batting long and adding a few more runs, England would look forward to having a better batting performance in their 2nd essay.

Statistical highlights from the India vs England, 1st Test, Day 2

Tom Hartley’s wicket of Shubman Gill was his 1st in Test cricket.
KL Rahul scored his 14th Test half-century in his 50th Test match.
Ravindra Jadeja zoomed past his 20th Test half-century, his 11th since 2019.
It was a battle of sorts between Jadeja and England speedster, Mark Wood who has taken the wicket of the left-hander once while conceding 19 runs in Test cricket.