Trisha Ghosal in Birmingham
India owned Day 2 of the second Test at Edgbaston, with captain Shubman Gill hammering a majestic 269 — setting a record for the highest Test score by an Indian in England. England’s seamers toiled with little reward, and the early batting collapse only compounded their misery. At three down in response to India’s towering 587, it was a forgettable day for the hosts. Facing the press was England’s assistant coach Jeetan Patel, who offered a sobering assessment, but also signalled the team was not ready to throw in the towel.
On Shubman Gill’s Knock
Patel didn’t hide from the obvious. “Pretty tough day. You have to give it to Shubman,” he admitted. “Yesterday felt like it could have been a lot different.” England had kept India relatively quiet in the last session of Day 1, but the Indian captain’s unrelenting tempo on Day 2 quickly shifted the tone of the match.
Are England Now Playing for a Draw?
Asked whether England were shifting to survival mode, Patel was cautious but not defeatist. “We’ll try to find another way to get us through,” he said. “Two-three days of cricket are left. On such a fast-scoring pitch, anything can happen.” His comments suggest England are hoping for a counterattack or a shift in conditions rather than simply shutting shop.
On Workload Management and the Pace Attack
England’s decision to rotate bowlers and manage workloads —especially after being pummelled for 587 — was questioned. Patel acknowledged the need to manage player fatigue but pointed to upcoming reinforcements. “Yes, but we do have some days’ gap after this match,” he said. “And we do have others coming back — Archer, Gus. That’s the beauty of having depth.”
It was a diplomatic answer to what many consider a stretched bowling unit. With frontline pacers leaking runs and wickets hard to come by, England will be hoping their returning quicks can inject life into a fading series campaign.
Patel didn’t sound alarm bells, but the subtext was clear. England are under pressure, and how they bat will determine whether this becomes a backs-to-the-wall resistance or a slow surrender. Either way, Edgbaston expects answers.
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