Chris Woakes was England’s standout bowler on the opening day, picking up key wickets of KL Rahul and Nitish Kumar Reddy. However, he had strong chances to finish with four wickets, as two sharp LBW appeals one against Jaiswal and another against Nair were turned down by the umpire.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Karun Nair were both saved by close umpire calls on Day 1, which left Chris Woakes visibly frustrated during the 2nd Test.
Chris Woakes Denied Two Key Wickets After Close LBW Calls
The missed chances proved costly. Jaiswal, who survived early, went on to score a crucial 87 off 112 balls. Karun Nair also benefited from a close call and added a steady 31 off 50. These decisions clearly disrupted Woakes’ rhythm, and he expressed his disappointment after play.
“Well yes, it’s frustrating. These are decisions which can go your way, but this is the game we play and we move on,” Woakes said during the post-day press conference.
He also shared his view on how the pitch played on Day 1, calling it fair but challenging for bowlers who don’t maintain their lines:
“It’s still a good pitch. There’s enough in it if you hit the right areas. We’ve got wickets at regular intervals. If we can break this stand early tomorrow, we’re still in the game.”
Despite his frustrations, Woakes showed class by applauding India skipper Shubman Gill, who remained unbeaten on 112* at stumps, with 12 boundaries in a composed and skillful innings.
“It was a great hundred. He did well for his team. He managed to absorb pressure and then capitalise,” Woakes added.
India Going Strong on Day 2
India continued to dominate on Day 2 as Shubman Gill carried his fine form forward, joined by Ravindra Jadeja. The pair built a solid partnership, frustrating England’s bowlers further with smart batting and resilience. Though England created a few half-chances, India looked well in control of the game under challenging conditions.
Stay tuned for more updates on the England vs India 2nd Test.
