On June 22, 2025, Day 2 of the 1st Test at Headingley, Leeds, saw England’s batting take center stage despite India’s early dominance. England ended the day at 209/3, trailing India’s first innings total of 471 by 262 runs. Ollie Pope’s unbeaten century (100*) and Ben Duckett’s 62 were the highlights, but India’s bowling and fielding let them down with missed chances costing dearly.
England’s batting started shakily when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Zak Crawley for 4 in the first over, setting a tense tone. However, Duckett and Pope stitched a solid 103-run partnership, with Duckett reaching 53* before tea and Pope unbeaten on 48*. After the break, Duckett fell to Bumrah for 62, but Pope, surviving two drops, pressed on. Joe Root joined him, adding 28 before Bumrah struck again, leaving England at 209/3 with Harry Brook on 0* at stumps. Pope’s ninth Test ton off 131 balls, with 13 fours, showcased resilience, especially after early reprieves.
India’s bowling relied heavily on Bumrah, who finished with 3/48, removing Crawley, Duckett, and Root with his sharp seam movement. His spell was electric, nearly adding a fourth wicket, but a no-ball spared Brook. Mohammed Siraj (0/33) struggled with rhythm, leaking runs, while Prasidh Krishna (0/18 in 3 overs) offered width, allowing England to score freely. Ravindra Jadeja bowled tightly but took no wickets, and Shardul Thakur’s introduction late was ineffective. The attack lacked support, with fielding errors compounding the issue.
India’s fielding was a major letdown. Duckett was dropped twice off Bumrah—first by Yashasvi Jaiswal on 11 and then by Jadeja on 15—both catchable chances. Pope was also reprieved on 60 by Jaiswal at third slip. A run-out chance was missed when Rishabh Pant threw to the wrong end with Duckett on 15. The last over saw Bumrah overstep, giving Brook a lifeline. These lapses turned a potential 5 or 6 down into a strong 209/3, frustrating India’s bowlers.
The day began with India resuming at 359/3, but a collapse saw them lose 7 wickets for 41 runs, bowled out for 471. Pant’s 134 and Gill’s 147 earlier set a big total, but England’s fightback, aided by India’s mistakes, leveled the contest. Day 3, starting at 3:30 pm IST, will be crucial as England look to build and India seek to capitalize on Bumrah’s form.
