India found themselves at the receiving end of a dramatic weather shift on Day 2 of the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, as England capitalised on improved pitch and weather conditions to finish the day strongly at 225/2.
India Bowled Out for 358 Despite Pant’s Gritty Knock
The nation was dismissed for 358 in their first innings, with Rishabh Pant showing tremendous courage by returning to bat despite a fractured foot. However, what followed was a contrasting narrative as the conditions changed significantly in favour of the home side.
England’s openers, Ben Duckett (94) and Zak Crawley (84), put India on the back foot with a blazing 166-run stand.
Both batters looked set for centuries but fell short, with Ravindra Jadeja dismissing Duckett and debutant Anshul Kamboj removing Crawley.
Joe Root (11) and Ollie Pope (20) remained unbeaten at stumps as England ended the day trailing by just 133 runs with eight wickets in hand.
Manjrekar: India Hard Done by Weather Gods
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out the stark contrast in playing conditions between the two innings.
“What this tells us is that India were a bit hard done by the weather gods,” Manjrekar said while analysing on JioCinema.
“During their innings, there were dark grey clouds and moisture; it looked like a black-and-white movie at one point. But by Day 2, the pitch eased up and the skies cleared completely.”
He added, “Even someone like Jasprit Bumrah struggled to find a wicket-taking delivery. India will be happy with the two wickets they managed to take.”
Manjrekar also evaluated debutant Anshul Kamboj’s performance, noting his promise despite challenging conditions.
“I’m very happy for Kamboj; he has potential. His action is simple and repeatable, but he needs to avoid bowling back-of-a-length deliveries at under 130 kph,” he remarked. “To be fair, the pitch offered him little assistance on Day 2.”
England cricketer Jonathan Trott reflected on how the toss played a key role in shaping the match so far.
“This is where the advantage of winning the toss comes in,” Trott said. “India batted well in the morning, but the UK afternoons are usually better for batting. The pitch on Days 2 and 3 at Old Trafford is traditionally the best for batters.”
He emphasised that the first session on Day 3 would be crucial. “If India strikes early with the new ball, especially with some cloud cover like in the previous mornings, they can still claw their way back.”
With conditions likely to favour batters again, England will aim to build a substantial lead.
However, India will look to make early breakthroughs and shift momentum back in their favour as the Test enters a decisive phase.
Also Read: Foot Injury Forces Pant Out Of England Series; Medical Advice Recommends Six-Week Rest
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