In the second Test of the five-match series between India (IND) and England (ENG) at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, the hosts emerged victorious by a margin of 106 runs. This victory levelled the series at 1-1, setting the stage for an eagerly anticipated third match scheduled to commence on Thursday, February 15.
Early in the game, winning the toss, India chose to bat and posted a strong total of 396. Yashasvi Jaiswal led the way with a magnificent 209, well-supported by Shubman Gill (32), Rajat Patidar (27), Axar Patel (45), and Shreyas Iyer (27). James Anderson, Rehan Ahmed, and Shoaib Bashir each picked up three wickets for England. In reply, England were bowled out for 253. Zak Crawley top-scored with 76, and Ben Stokes added 47. Jasprit Bumrah was the wrecker-in-chief with six wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav claimed three scalps.
Batting again, India capitalised on their first-innings lead, posting 255. Shubman Gill scored a century (105), and Axar Patel contributed 45 runs. England needed 399 runs to win in the fourth innings. England started their chase well, putting on 50 runs for the first wicket. However, they lost wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bowled out for 292. Zak Crawley fought hard for 73 runs before being dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav. Other notable contributions came from Ben Foakes (36) and Tom Hartley (36). With this victory, India has levelled the series at 1-1.
India have a good record at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, winning one match out of two against West Indies (drawn one). Their upcoming match against England will be their second at this venue, after their first clash in 2016 ended in a draw.
In that match, England posted a massive 537 in their first innings, with centuries from Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Moeen Ali. India responded with 488, thanks to centuries from Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara. England’s second innings saw former England captain Alastair Cook score 130 runs and remain unbeaten as the day ended with the score at 260/3. The match eventually ended in a draw after five days.
IND vs ENG Test Head-to-Head Record:
India and England have played 133 Test matches against each other. India have won 32, England have won 51, and 50 have been drawn. In India, they’ve played 66 Tests. India has won 23, England have won 15, and 28 have been drawn.
| Matches Played | India won | England won | Drawn | Abandoned | No Result |
| 133 | 32 | 51 | 50 | 0 | 0 |
Pitch Report:
The third Test between India and England in Rajkot, starting on February 15, is expected to feature a slow pitch. The ongoing five-match series is currently tied at 1-1. The surface in Rajkot is known for being batting-friendly and supportive of spinners, particularly as the game progresses into Days three, four, and five. The average score batting first on this ground is 593.
Test Records and Stats at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium
In the two Test matches held at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, pacers have taken 13 wickets at an average of 58.61, while spinners have claimed 44 wickets at an average of 37.25. Notably, that the team batting first has won one game and the other has ended in a draw. The average first-innings score at Rajkot is 593.
| Matches Played | Won Batting First | Won Batting Second | No Result | Matches Tied | Matches Drawn
|
Average First Innings Score | Highest Team Totals | Lowest team Totals | Matches won after winning the toss | Matches won after losing the toss |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
593
|
649 | 181 | 1 | 0 |
IND vs ENG Players Battles Watch Out For:
Ben Stokes vs Ravichandran Ashwin
Ben Stokes struggles against Ravichandran Ashwin. In 27 Test innings, he’s only amassed 251 runs at a meagre average of 20.91. The Indian spinner has dismissed him a staggering 12 times in 642 deliveries. Notably, 511 of those were dot balls, highlighting Ashwin’s stranglehold on the English all-rounder.
Shubman Gill vs James Anderson
Shubman Gill has faced difficulties against English seamers with the new ball. In his last eight Test innings, he has managed only 48 runs at a concerning average of six. He has faced 92 deliveries in these instances, with 73 being dot balls. Notably, English pacers have dismissed him five times during this period. While the Rajkot surface is known to be batting-friendly, the early swing movement could once again pose a challenge for the Indian batter, especially against a skilled bowler like James Anderson.
X-factors for India vs England:
India
Rohit Sharma will play a crucial role in the upcoming match. As the senior player and captain, he boasts the most experience within the Indian batting lineup. He has an impressive record against England, amassing 837 runs at an average of 44.05 and a strike rate of 49.32, with two centuries and three fifties to his name. His highest score of 161 further demonstrates his ability to bat for long durations and score big runs.
England
Both Joe Root and Ben Stokes possess strong records at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. Notably, in their last encounter in 2016, Root scored 128 and Stokes added a crucial 124. Having experienced success on the ground before, they will likely be aiming to replicate those performances in the upcoming match.
India vs England Predicted Playing XI:
India:
Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Srikar Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav.
England:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson.