India vs England, 2nd Test – Day 2 Report (July 3, 2025)
India closed out an outstanding second day at Headingley firmly in command, building on their strong batting foundation and making early inroads with the ball to leave England under significant pressure.
Gill’s marathon knock sets the tone
The 2nd day began with a dominant position and Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja, at the crease. Resuming alongside the pair extended their partnership past 200 on a docile pitch that offered little encouragement to England’s bowlers. Jadeja notched his 23rd Test fifty before falling to Josh Tongue for 89, that time he was playing good but unfortunately he through own wicket on bounce ball.
Even that wicket did little to slow India’s momentum. Post-lunch, Gill found a new partner in Washington Sundar, whose calm innings at number eight was crucial in stretching the total. The two added a pivotal 144-run stand, with Sundar offering a steady hand while Gill surged past landmark after landmark. He brought up a double-century with typical composure and then pressed on to a commanding 250 before Tea.
After Tea, he went even further—ultimately compiling a remarkable 269 before being dismissed. His innings was an exhibition of patience, control, and big-match temperament, especially important given India’s recent history of middle-order collapses. Gill also became just the sixth Indian captain to score a double-century in Tests, etching his name alongside the country’s greats.
England’s attack, despite visible commitment and effort, looked increasingly ragged across 151 overs in the heat. Their plan of sustained short-ball spells on a slow surface often backfired, rarely threatening the stumps. Shoaib Bashir took three wickets, while Tongue and Woakes shared four between them, but by then India had posted an imposing total that forced England to spend almost six sessions in the field across the first two days.
India’s bowlers seize the initiative
After that draining spell with the ball, England’s batters had the daunting task of surviving a fired-up Indian attack. The visiting bowlers came out with unmistakable energy, despite the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Akash Deep seized the moment, delivering a fiery new-ball spell that turned the game firmly India’s way. He sent back Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope—last Test’s centurions—in consecutive balls, laying down an early marker of intent.
Mohammed Siraj backed up that start with a probing spell of his own, claiming another wicket to leave England reeling at 25 for 3. The top order, clearly feeling the fatigue of their long fielding stint, looked tentative and flat-footed in their responses.
Harry Brook overcame a close call while on 1 and then steadied himself with Joe Root’s composed support at the other end. The two Yorkshiremen managed to steady things with an unbroken 52-run partnership by stumps. Even so, the hosts faced a daunting task trailing by a large margin and with a long road ahead to avoid the follow-on.
Dominance reflected in the session stats
India’s day was as complete as the numbers suggested: they took all three sessions, scoring freely in the morning, consolidating through the afternoon, and striking decisively with the ball in the evening. Of the six sessions in this match to date, India have asserted control in five, with just one shared evenly.
