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After piling up a formidable 587 runs in their first innings, India closed Day 2 of the second Test at Edgbaston in complete control. At stumps, England were reeling at 77 for 3, trailing by a massive 510 runs with seven wickets remaining.
Yashasvi Jaiswal laid the platform with a stylish 87, but it was Shubman Gill who lit up Edgbaston with a career-best 269 — a masterful innings that etched his name in the record books. Ravindra Jadeja’s composed 89 from 137 balls added crucial lower-order runs to swell India’s total to a near-insurmountable figure.
Early Strikes Push England on the Defensive
India’s bowlers wasted no time making inroads. Akash Deep delivered two early blows, dismissing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks. Mohammed Siraj joined the party by removing Zak Crawley, leaving England in deep trouble. Joe Root and Harry Brook steadied the innings with a 52-run stand, but the hosts still face a monumental task to avoid a follow-on.
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History Offers Cautionary Tales and Hope
Interestingly, India have only won once after scoring over 500 in their first innings on English soil — the famous Headingley Test in 2002 under Sourav Ganguly. Conversely, England can draw confidence from their own recent heroics; under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, they have thrice overturned huge first-innings deficits during the Bazball era.
In Test cricket history, there has been just one occasion where a team scored more than India’s 587 and still lost — Bangladesh’s 595 for 8 declared against New Zealand in 2017.
Advantage India, but Can They Seal It?
With Shubman Gill’s heroics and early breakthroughs with the ball, India have put themselves in pole position for a series-levelling victory. But with the Bazball-inspired England known for their fearless comebacks, the match promises more twists before the final result. Day 3 could prove decisive in determining whether India can translate dominance into a famous win.
