Ben Duckett’s sensational century at 88 balls in India left the hosts shocked after they left runs unscored in their first innings of 445. He scored 133 of the 207 England made for the loss of two wickets in just 35 overs on the second day. India had batted 45 overs in the first half of the day, adding just 119 runs to their overnight 326 for 5. The recurring theme of India losing wickets without a build-up or a discernible plan from England’s bowlers continued. India tried bowling the channel, but Duckett stayed beside the line and crashed the quicks through the off side.
Kuldeep Yadav tried his wristspin, but Duckett swept and reverse-swept seven fours in his first four overs. R. Ashwin, who got to his 500th Test wicket with the scalp of Zak Crawley, was allowed no time to celebrate as Duckett slog-swept a good-length ball from the stumps and then followed it up by going back and pulling him. The only time Duckett looked in any kind of trouble was in the first four overs, when he was beaten five times. He had tried to hit a four off each of those balls and wasn’t dissuaded from doing that the next time he saw width.
Ollie Pope, who scored the breathtaking 196 to steal the first Test away from India, and Crawley, who has been England’s best batter this series overall, were reduced to being mere spectators even though they batted with assuredness and comfort. By the time Ashwin came onto the field, Duckett and Crawley had raced so far ahead that he started off with a negative line outside leg to Crawley. India tried to build to another wicket, but Pope was not that good a starter, and Kuldeep started by beating his bat on the outside edge. On 2 off 11, Pope decided it wouldn’t matter which way it was turning if he got to its pitch and biffs it over the infield.
This heralded another wave of attack, which included the audacious slog-sweep off Ashwin for his first six. India then decided to slow the game down, following England’s strategy of using Mark Wood as a field for bouncers and keeping bowing them one after the other. However, when Siraj bowled one on a length, it behaved like his wobble-seam ball with the new ball does. It took such a good ball with the old ball and then a review for India to get some relief. At last, Pope was trapped on the crease, but England were already 182 for 2 in just 30 overs.
Even with stumps around the corner, the wicket failed to bring down Duckett’s disdain. He immediately reversed Jadeja for a flat six over what would have been the point had he not switched his stance. In the last over, Ashwin came close to getting Duckett out when he defended for a change, but the offbreak had landed just outside leg.