Team India continued their domination over England in the ongoing Hyderabad Test as they made the visiting bowlers toil hard on Friday (January 26).
In reply to England’s first innings total of 246, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal laid the perfect platform for India with a swashbuckling 74-ball 80 (10 fours and 3 sixes).
Later on, KL Rahul (86), Ravindra Jadeja (81*), KS Bharat (41) and Akshar Patel (35*) returned with crucial knocks, propelling the hosts to 421/7 at stumps on Day 2, leading the visitors by a huge margin of 175 runs.
After the second day’s play, England assistant coach Jeetan Patel conceded that it was a challenging day for his bowlers against a group of skilled Indian batters.
"It was a tough day. Playing against India in India is tough as they create a lot of pressure. The way we created chances, some may have gone a little bit our way, then it would have been different. But that's cricket," said Patel during his post-day press conference.
"But it's another opportunity to play Test cricket in India, to take Test wickets, another opportunity to learn."
Patel appreciated Joe Root for providing valuable support to the three main spinners with an impressive spell.
"We saw a typical Joe Root. He created opportunities. He is going to get hit for boundaries. He is going to bowl attacking deliveries and ask attacking questions. He was fantastic."
The former New Zealand spinner also provided an update on left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who took a hit on his knee while fielding.
"He banged his knee last night on the outfield and again banged today. Outfield a little sluggish. But he bowled really well. That's what Jack is. He will be back, one of the strongest guys in the team. He is a tough bloke and never shirk responsibility," he stated.
Jeetan Patel also backed debutant spinner Tom Hartley, who was taken to the cleaners by Jaiswal and other Indian batters.
"Hartley wanted to take on Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma. We spoke last night, ‘Well, it happens. We'll come back tomorrow.' I am not going to argue with Anil Kumble (on his analysis of England bowling). He is a legend of the game. But on these sorts of pitches, it is all about how many times can you hit the seam and how many times can you miss the seam," he remarked.
(With PTI Inputs)
