Yashasvi Jaiswal’s fearless strokeplay under pressure lit up the evening session on Day 2, as India surged ahead in their second innings to wrest back control in the fifth and final Test against England. His rapid-fire 57* off just 58 balls helped India erase a 23-run deficit and end the day on 75/2, establishing a 52-run lead and reversing the early damage inflicted by England.
Jaiswal, who came out with clear attacking intent, dominated the English bowlers from the outset. Slashing, ramping, and launching two audacious sixes off Jamie Overton, he turned what could’ve been a nervy second innings into a statement of defiance. Despite being dropped twice, first by Harry Brook in the slips and later by Liam Dawson in the deep, the left-hander kept pressing on, bringing up his eighth Test half-century in just 44 balls.
England’s bowlers, riding high after a dominant morning session, suddenly found themselves rattled. Josh Tongue did manage to dismiss KL Rahul for 10, edging behind to slip, and Gus Atkinson removed Sai Sudharsan with an lbw that clipped the pad low.
Earlier in the day, it was India’s bowlers, especially Mohammed Siraj, who set the tone for the turnaround. After England’s openers put up a brutal 109/1 by Lunch, the Indian attack regrouped and returned with precision and fire.
Siraj, in particular, was electric. In an eight-over spell brimming with pace and swing, he removed Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, and later Harry Brook, finishing with 4 for 86. His searing inswinging yorker to dismiss Bethell was the standout moment, a delivery that left the debutant no chance.
Prasidh Krishna complemented Siraj perfectly, bouncing back from a tough tour with a crucial spell of 4 for 62. He dismissed the dangerous Zak Crawley, who had raced to a 42-ball fifty, and then removed Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton in the same over, cracking England’s middle and lower order.
England, who had looked set for a sizeable lead, crumbled for 247 in just 51.2 overs, managing only a 23-run advantage after their blazing start.
The day had begun disastrously for India. Resuming at 204/6, the visitors folded within half an hour, adding only 20 runs as Gus Atkinson completed a five-wicket haul. Washington Sundar was caught by a short-ball trap, Siraj was bowled by a straight one, and Prasidh edged behind. India’s first innings ended at 224, a total that looked below par, until their bowlers and then Jaiswal’s bat turned the match around.
