India vs England Test – Day 2 at Headingley: Duckett-Pope Revival Counters Bumrah’s Brilliance

June 22, 2025
|In Sports
|By Ajay Yadav

 Match Summary at Stumps – Day 2

  • India 1st Innings: 471 all out

  • England 1st Innings: 209/3 (at stumps), trailing by 262 runs

  • Top Scorers: Shubman Gill (147), Rishabh Pant (134), Ollie Pope (100*), Ben Duckett (62)

  • Top Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah (3 wickets), Ben Stokes (2 wickets)

 Day 2 Recap: From Dominance to Drama

India came into Day 2 at 359/3 and seemed poised for a 600+ first-innings total. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant had already laid a massive foundation. However, what followed was a swift collapse, reducing India from 430/3 to 471 all out—a sudden fall of 7 wickets for just 41 runs.

England’s response began shakily, losing Zak Crawley early. But a calm and aggressive partnership between Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope brought them back into the match. They now stand at 209/3, showing signs of a potential comeback.

Date: June 21, 2025
Venue: Headingley, Leeds
Match: 1st Test, India vs England – Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy 2025

 The Collapse: India’s Missed Opportunity

India looked unstoppable early in the day. Pant raced to his 6th Test century and Shubman Gill notched up a classy 147. But as soon as Pant fell trying to loft one into the stands, the middle and lower order crumbled. England’s bowlers—particularly Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue—applied reverse swing pressure that exposed the tailenders.

The final total of 471 was impressive, but given the earlier foundation, India will feel they left runs on the field.

 Duckett and Pope Lead English Revival

Facing a huge deficit, England needed a resilient response. Although Zak Crawley was dismissed early by Bumrah’s sharp in-swinger, Ben Duckett played an aggressive 62 from 94 balls, taking the attack to India. His shot selection and positive intent disrupted the bowlers’ rhythm.

Ollie Pope, under pressure for consistency, was compact, elegant, and resilient. He finished the day unbeaten on 100*, reaching his 9th Test century with a straight drive off Siraj. Together, the pair added 122 runs that gave England stability at a critical time.

 Bumrah’s Brilliance & Record

Jasprit Bumrah continued to prove why he is considered the world’s top fast bowler in Test cricket today. He picked up the wickets of Crawley, Duckett, and Joe Root with absolute precision. His yorker to Root was unplayable and knocked off stump out of the ground.

With these wickets, Bumrah overtook legendary names to become the leading Asian pacer in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries in terms of Test wickets. His spell was aggressive, economical, and tactically sharp.

 Player Highlights

 Ben Duckett (England)

  • Score: 62 (94 balls)

  • Style: Quick footwork, scored freely off spin and seam.

  • Statement: “We wanted to counterattack. Ollie was fantastic. His innings gave me goosebumps.”

 Ollie Pope (England)

  • Score: 100* (131 balls)

  • Style: Anchored innings under pressure.

  • Significance: His hundred restored English hopes and pushed India’s bowlers back.

 Jasprit Bumrah (India)

 Tactical Analysis

  • India’s Batting: Strong top order but fragile lower-middle. Missed out on a potential 550+ total.

  • England’s Bowling: Found rhythm only after the 120-over mark. Reverse swing, especially by Stokes and Tongue, proved crucial.

  • England’s Batting: Smart counter-attacking by Duckett and Pope, using the crease well and rotating strike.

  • India’s Bowling: Bumrah’s first spell was lethal. Siraj and Jadeja bowled tidy but lacked breakthroughs.

 Turning Points

  1. Pant’s Wicket: His dismissal at 430/3 triggered India’s sudden collapse.

  2. Duckett-Pope Stand: The 122-run partnership stabilized England’s innings and prevented early follow-on fears.

  3. Bumrah’s Second Spell: Removed Duckett and Root quickly to halt momentum.

 Day 3 – What to Expect

With England still trailing by 262 runs and 7 wickets in hand, Day 3 promises intrigue.

  • England’s Goals:

    • Extend the Pope-led innings.

    • Reduce the deficit to below 100 for a chance at parity.

  • India’s Strategy:

    • Take early wickets with the new ball.

    • Target the inexperienced lower order.

    • Keep a follow-on option in hand if they bowl England out under 271.

Conditions at Headingley are expected to remain sunny with light cloud—favorable for batting, though reverse swing may play a role.

 Scorecard Snapshot

India – 1st Innings: 471 all out

  • Shubman Gill – 147

  • Rishabh Pant – 134

  • Ben Stokes – 2/49

  • Josh Tongue – 3/66

England – 1st Innings: 209/3 (at stumps, Day 2)

  • Ben Duckett – 62

  • Ollie Pope – 100*

  • Jasprit Bumrah – 3/45

 Live Streaming & Match Access

  • Live Score: Available on all major cricket portals and apps.

  • Streaming:

    • India – Hotstar & Star Sports

    • UK – Sky Sports

    • Worldwide – ICC.tv (selected territories)

  • Timing: Day 3 begins at 10:00 GMT / 3:30 PM IST

 Series Context – Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy

This five-Test series marks the inaugural edition of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, replacing the former Pataudi Trophy. It symbolizes the rich cricketing heritage between the two nations and adds a fresh layer of pride for both teams.

 Fan Reactions (Recap)

  • On Duckett-Pope Partnership: Applauded for playing fearless yet composed cricket under pressure.

  • On Bumrah’s Records: Indian fans celebrated his milestone with hashtags trending online.

  • On Pant’s Knock: Widely regarded as the most entertaining innings of the day.

 What Lies Ahead?

  • Can England erase the trail and post a lead?

  • Will Pope convert into a double century?

  • Can Bumrah continue his destruction with the second new ball?

As the match heads into Day 3, Headingley promises more drama, intensity, and top-tier cricket. Both sides have strengths; execution will determine the course of this Test—and potentially the series.