Gritty 100-run stand between Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane
India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara came into this Test amidst intense pressure especially with both of the team failing to score in the first Test in Nottingham and their previous below-par performances as well.
In the second innings, India teetered at 55/3 when Rahane joined Pujara in the middle and the duo gritted it out for almost 300 balls, adding 100 runs for the 4th wicket. Pujara made 45 in 206 balls, while Rahane scored 61 in 146 balls.
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Both the senior pros had done their job of tiring the England bowlers and showed the batters that followed them that there were no demons in the pitch.
It eventually helped Bumrah and Shami to counter the England pacers in their now iconic unbeaten 89-run partnership which put India in driver’s position.
