India's first innings at the Headingley Test took a dramatic turn on Day 2, as a promising position quickly deteriorated into a batting collapse, resulting in the team being bowled out for 471. Resuming the day at a comfortable 359/3, India looked set to post a massive total, but a combination of disciplined England bowling and some rash shots led to the loss of the last seven wickets for just 51 runs.
The day began with overnight batsmen Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant looking to build on their already substantial partnership. Gill, leading the team in this Test, was particularly impressive, reaching his highest Test score of 147. Pant, known for his aggressive strokeplay, complemented Gill's elegance with a brisk 134. Their partnership of 209 runs for the fourth wicket appeared to be taking the game away from England.
However, the situation began to change after Gill's dismissal. The Indian captain, attempting a big hit, mistimed a shot off Shoaib Bashir and was caught in the deep. This breakthrough opened the floodgates, and England seized the opportunity to claw their way back into the match.
Following Gill's fall, Karun Nair's return to the team after a long hiatus ended in a disappointing duck, as he edged a ball to the keeper. Pant, after reaching his century, was trapped LBW by Josh Tongue, further denting India's progress. With the set batsmen back in the pavilion, the onus was on the lower order to contribute, but they failed to offer much resistance.
Ravindra Jadeja, usually a reliable contributor with the bat, was dismissed for 11, chopping a ball onto his stumps off Tongue. This dismissal marked the beginning of a rapid decline, as the remaining batsmen struggled to cope with the pressure. Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, and the tail-enders fell in quick succession, unable to stem the flow of wickets.
England's bowlers, led by Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue, deserve credit for their spirited comeback. Stokes, with his relentless energy and skillful variations, picked up four wickets, while Tongue's probing lines and lengths earned him a well-deserved four-wicket haul. They exploited the conditions effectively, extracting movement off the pitch and keeping the Indian batsmen on their toes.
The dramatic collapse undoubtedly shifted the momentum of the match. At 430/3, India was in a commanding position, eyeing a score in excess of 550 or even 600. However, the sudden loss of wickets not only prevented them from reaching that mark but also gave England a significant psychological boost.
The collapse "revived England's morale a fair bit," injecting fresh energy into their fielding and bowling efforts. They managed to restrict India to a total that, while still respectable, was significantly lower than what seemed likely earlier in the day. India, on the other hand, would be left to rue the missed opportunity and ponder the reasons for their sudden slump. The batting woes have put extra pressure on the Indian bowlers to perform well and get the team back on top.
