Things escalated unbelievably in the first session of Day 2 in the ongoing day-night Test in Ahmedabad – so much that it has led the former England skipper, Michael Vaughan to actually opine that England are now favourites in the game going ahead despite a trail of 33 runs in the first innings.
India started the session at a score of 99/3 with Rohit Sharma well set after going past another fifty on the previous day and with him was Ajinkya Rahane, who has scored a brilliant fifty in the second Test. The hosts would have hoped to bat big and bat the visitors out of the game. However, it was not to be.
Jack Leach, England’s lone premier spinner in the eleven, removed both Rahane and Rohit. India still had the cushion of extra batting with Rishabh Pant, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar.
Once again, not to be – Joe Root, who would have been in regret of his decision to not play Dom Bess as the second spinner, brought himself into the attack, and to his and England’s delight, the skipper struck with his golden arm removing Pant on his first ball of the day.
A couple of overs later, Joe Root gave a double blow to India with wickets of Sundar and Patel in one over; 3-3-0-3 read his figures. The English skipper left a crowd stunned – they went into a state where even a defence or a single was greeted with a cheer – with England’s comeback in the game.
Root added two more scalps – R Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah – to his name and bagged his maiden international five-wicket haul, giving away just 8 runs! India collapsed from 98/2 to 145 all out – bringing the horror of Adelaide back to the memories – and have a small but crucial lead of 33 runs.
England now favourites: Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan, who has been plenty active on Twitter in recent times, has picked Joe Root’s team as the favourites after India’s collapse.
Michael Vaughan also is astonished by how things have transpired – as he feels – England from all but certain to lose the game, to now in a matter of a couple of hours, in a position of strength.
England now favourites … incredible session !! #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 25, 2021
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