Day four of the second Test between England and India at Edgbaston is underway, with India in a commanding position. At the close of day three, India had reached 64 for 1 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 244 runs. KL Rahul and Karun Nair are at the crease, tasked with building a substantial lead to put England under pressure.
India's strong position is largely thanks to their bowlers, particularly Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, who dismantled the England batting lineup in the first innings. Siraj claimed a six-wicket haul (6/70), while Akash Deep supported him with four wickets. Their performance was especially crucial in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, with Siraj stepping up to lead the pace attack.
England's first innings was a story of resilience and collapse. After being reduced to 84/5, Jamie Smith and Harry Brook forged a remarkable 303-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Smith remained unbeaten on 184, while Brook contributed a composed 158. Smith's aggressive innings included smashing 23 runs off a single over and reaching a rapid century in just 80 balls. However, once Akash Deep dismissed Brook, England's lower order crumbled, losing their last five wickets for just 20 runs.
As play resumes on day four, India will aim to bat England out of the contest. The pitch is expected to favor the batsmen, and India will look to capitalize on these conditions to set a daunting target. Karun Nair, in particular, will be under pressure to deliver a significant innings after a series of low scores. The key will be to build partnerships and accelerate the scoring rate to maximize their lead.
For England, the task is clear: they need to regroup and find a way to restrict India's scoring. The bowlers will need to be disciplined and exploit any assistance the pitch offers. The batting lineup will also need to show more consistency and resilience than they did in their first innings.
The match is currently heading for a close finish, and the outcome of day four will likely determine the winner. With India in a strong position, England will need to produce something special to turn the tide.
