Rishabh Pant’s Daring Knock Helps India Build Big Lead Over England

On the fourth day of the second Test in Birmingham India had a strong morning session and the highlight was Rishabh Pant who batted fearlessly and added valuable runs to take the team’s lead past 350. His aggressive approach gave India an edge and helped the team dominate before the lunch break. England did get two wickets in the session one of them being KL Rahul who had scored his fifty but Pant's aggressive approach and his partnership with Shubman Gill provided India with the momentum.

When the day started the conditions at Edgbaston were cloudy but there was little assistance to Chris Woakes from the pitch. Conversely Brydon Carse could get some bounce and unsettle the Indian batsmen. Rahul began the day in style striking a lovely four through cover off a full ball. But Carse continued to bowl probing deliveries. He got an edge off Rahul but the ball whizzed past the slip cordon. Karun Nair was also troubled by some unpalatable deliveries from Carse one of which hit his helmet and the other took the edge but made it to the boundary. Rahul and Nair kept finding the boundary under pressure. They built steady runs and came up with a 45-run second-wicket partnership. The run rate remained healthy as they capitalized on any loose deliveries.

But Carse then succeeded at last when he got Nair to go after a ball outside off and the edge was caught behind the wickets. That wicket provided England with the breakthrough but India had already reached their 100 in the first hour. Carse went on bowling with control and swing and did create some chances but the Indian batsmen played safe. England also squandered a review on an LBW appeal against Gill since the ball had obviously struck the inside edge.

KL Rahul was playing well and completed his fifty with a nice cover drive shot for three runs. Gill also followed it up with a boundary through the same region. As things seemed to be going strongly in partnership Ben Stokes delivered a ball which caught Rahul's edge but still managed to speed away to the boundary aiding India pass the 300-run mark. Rahul's decent innings came to an end soon after when he got bowled by Josh Tongue's vicious delivery. The ball curved in and then straightened just enough to beat the bat and find the stumps. That wicket got Rishabh Pant to the crease and from his first ball he seemed set to take charge.

Pant began his innings with a fashionable shot over fine leg for four and then smashed a huge six over long-off. He came after the bowlers right from the beginning. While he did get a lucky moment when Zak Crawley spilled a catch at mid-off off Stokes Pant did not hesitate. He capitalized on the lapse and attacked the bowlers. He hit a four and followed it up with a risky sweep shot for six off Josh Tongue. His aggressive batting kept the scoreboard moving and put the English bowlers on the back foot all the time.

Pant carried on his aggressive approach against Shoaib Bashir pulling two successive boundaries in the offspinner's opening over. He lost his bat while attempting a shot and even had a couple of nearescapes with edges and one delivery that almost bowled him. But he kept his cool played confidently and his bold shotplay took India further into the lead. Just prior to the interval he struck another boundary off Bashir that propelled the team's lead over 350. It was a commanding session for India although they lost two wickets.

Pant and Gill's 51-run stand went unperturbed during lunch and took India's score to 177 for 3 in only 25 overs. Pant did not get out on 41 and his innings was a riddle of risk, flair, and aggression which proved to make all the difference in the morning session. Gill provided him good support playing quietly and letting Pant do the scoring. Pant's attacking strokes and high spirits brought the team up and provided India with a dominating position in the match.

Brydon Carse was most menacing from the bowling department. He built pressure through short deliveries and movement. Josh Tongue also picked up two crucial wickets including Rahul but the other English bowlers were able to do nothing on a wicket that provided minimal assistance. Chris Woakes found it difficult to get rhythm and Ben Stokes bowled a good spell but to no avail. Shoaib Bashir was introduced but Pant went after him straight away which made it difficult for the spinner to get settled.

The Indian top order batting demonstrated control and purpose. Though Rahul played a mature innings of 55 it was Pant who transformed the atmosphere of the match with his aggressive shots. His innings not only collected fast runs but also drove England onto the back foot. The fact that India had scored 113 runs in a session proved that how well they controlled the game. Their superiority now seemed highly dominant with batting remaining and Pant being dangerous.

The scoreboard at lunch on Day 4 read India at 177 for 3 and had a lead of 357 runs. The match position overall was heavily in favor of India. They had already scored 587 runs in the first innings and now with such a good lead they were in power. England scored 407 runs in their first innings but now they had a humongous task ahead of them. Pant's innings was the highlight of the session and if he played in the same manner after lunch India might think of getting themselves declared or taking the lead well past England's reach.

This performance again demonstrated why Rishabh Pant is regarded as a game-changer. His capacity to attack in pressure moments makes him one of the most lethal players in world cricket. Despite having some lucky moments he utilized them well and ensured that India remained in the lead. With Gill remaining firm and Pant going all guns blazing India had numerous causes to be confident. The match was clearly moving in their favor as they looked to build an unbeatable total.