The second day of the first Test between England and India at Headingley has been marred by frustrating delays, with the Indian team expressing their displeasure after umpires instructed them to leave the field due to light rain. Play was initially held up due to overnight rain, and just as the teams were preparing to resume, a fresh bout of light rain prompted the umpires to halt proceedings, much to the annoyance of the Indian players and fans.
India had ended Day 1 in a strong position, but a batting collapse on Day 2 saw them all out for 471. England's innings was about to begin when the umpires decided the light rain was sufficient to take the players off.
Jasprit Bumrah was ready to bowl the first over when the umpires made their decision. Mohammed Siraj was visibly perplexed, while Rishabh Pant was seen questioning the umpires with arms outstretched, seeking clarification on the call. The Indian players were visibly reluctant to leave the field, with Bumrah, Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna among the last to trudge off. Many players lingered near the boundary, seemingly expecting a quick resumption.
Their frustration was compounded when the rain eased off just minutes after the covers were brought on, raising questions about the umpires' decision. Given the overcast conditions, India's pace attack would have been eager to exploit any swing and seam movement on offer.
This incident echoes a similar situation from the previous year, where Indian players, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, were involved in a heated discussion with umpires after play was halted due to bad light in a Test match against New Zealand. On that occasion, the Indian team felt the conditions were still suitable for play, leading to a disagreement with the officials.
Earlier in the day, India resumed their innings at 359/3, with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant looking to build on their impressive partnership. Gill reached 147 before falling, triggering a collapse that saw India lose their last seven wickets for just 41 runs. England's bowlers, led by Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue, capitalized on the conditions, swinging the ball to put India under pressure.
The weather forecast for the remainder of the Test predicts further rain interruptions, which could significantly impact the match. The cloud cover is expected to aid seam bowlers, potentially creating challenging conditions for both batting sides.