Edgbaston : India’s commanding position in the second Test against England received an added stamp of approval from JioHotstar expert and former pacer Varun Aaron, who, during the ‘Match Centre Live’ broadcast after the opening session on Day 2, praised the visitors’ clinical batting and slammed England’s passive bowling tactics.
“We spoke before the session about India needing to preserve wickets—and not only did they manage that, they also scored fluently,” Aaron began. “Losing just one wicket all morning means India are now in the driver’s seat. What was baffling from England’s end was the complete lack of pressure in the field. No close catchers. No aggressive field placements. In Test cricket, if a batter sees fielders around him—slips, silly point, leg gully—it automatically creates doubt. But here, you had Bashir, an off-spinner bowling around the wicket, and there wasn’t even a slip! That tells a batter like Shubman Gill, ‘Feel free to sweep, reverse, do what you want. No risk here.’”
Aaron didn’t hold back when it came to England’s game plan, calling out the team’s execution—or the lack thereof. “There’s no shortage of talent in this England side, but the plans seem muddled. And even when they’ve had a strategy, the field has completely undercut it. You’ve got to build pressure—don’t let batters rotate strike so easily. Ben Stokes allowed those easy singles right from the start, and by the time the bowlers had warmed up, Gill and Co. were cruising. Yes, they got a breakthrough eventually with a peach of a delivery—but Test cricket isn’t about waiting for magic balls. You build your wickets over time. And England haven’t done that. If India now respond with disciplined bowling, I wouldn’t be surprised if England struggle not just here, but through the rest of the series.”
Meanwhile, fellow expert Jonathan Trott took a moment to appreciate the artistry of Shubman Gill, whose poised and precise batting has become a highlight of the series. “Gill hasn’t looked under pressure at all. He’s answered every challenge England threw at him—tight fields, short balls, slower spells. He’s scored all around the ground, but what stood out this morning was how he shifted gears so smoothly,” Trott remarked.
“We saw him bring out that sweeping shot against spin, and the power with which he executed it showed the kind of rhythm he’s in. As long as Gill’s at the crease, there’s calm in that Indian dressing room. That said, once he departed, the momentum shifted instantly. Washington Sundar found himself under immediate pressure, and suddenly England looked like they had a chance. That’s the magic of Test cricket—it’s a game of momentum swings. One wicket, and the entire mood shifts.”
As the session closed, it was clear that India had firmly laid the groundwork for a massive first-innings total. But as Aaron and Trott both pointed out, the real test will be how India back up their batting with the ball.
“If they get that part right,” Aaron warned once again, “England could be in for a very long—and very difficult—series.”
