The fervor of Test cricket resumed as the second Test of the five-match series between India and England kicked off in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam on February 2. The hosts, having won the toss, chose to capitalize on the advantage by batting first in conditions that appeared amicable for a substantial score. Leading from the front was the young Yashasvi Jaiswal, who dominated the English bowlers and marked his presence with a second ton in the longest format of the game. Amidst the celebration, however, the day’s discourse was tinged with a narrative of disappointment as Indian skipper Rohit Sharma failed to convert his start on what seemed to be a batsman’s paradise, scraping together just 14 runs from 41 deliveries.
Rohit’s quiet stint at the crease culminated in a rather anti-climactic dismissal by debutant Shoaib Bashir, who caught the veteran off-guard. England’s Ollie Pope made no mistakes at leg slip, safely pocketing the catch and sending Sharma back to the pavilion after a ‘nothing shot’. This lackadaisical effort from Sharma drew sharp criticism from former English cricketer Kevin Pietersen, who minced no words in expressing his disappointment at Sharma’s lack of intent. “It doesn’t matter who you get out to, you can get out to anybody. I think he’d be kicking himself because there were plenty of runs to be had here. On this wicket, against a very young and inexperienced bowling attack, he will be looking at his dismissal and thinking, ‘How on earth did I get myself out here?'” Pietersen remarked during a post-innings analysis.
Elaborating on the nature of Sharma’s exit, Pietersen referred to it as ‘lazy’ and emphasized the absence of any urgency in Sharma’s approach to either rotate the strike or impose himself on the bowling attack. As a cricketer renowned for his aggressive play in the shorter formats, his inability to acclimatize and adjust his tactics for Test cricket on the day stood out jarringly. “That (the dismissal) was quite lazy. Yes, it is instinctive to knock the ball towards the leg side. But there was no urgency in what led to the dismissal. There was no urgency to try and get off the strike. These guys are expansive from ball one in T20 cricket, they play so beautifully. We have not seen huge spin, massive bounce, or anything that should pose any fear in the batter’s mind,” Pietersen added, highlighting the contrast between Sharma’s prolific T20 flair and his subpar Test performance.
While Pietersen’s critique of Sharma was harsh, he did find praise for Shubman Gill, who despite scoring 34 before being dismissed by James Anderson for the fifth time in Tests, showcased the intent that Sharma lacked. Gill’s 34 runs came with an intent to score, an intensity that Pietersen felt was absent in Sharma’s innings. Acknowledging Gill’s efforts, Pietersen noted, “Gill played nicely, I thought. There was an intensity in him. There was a lack of intensity in Rohit; it looked like his innings was in slow motion.”
Beyond the performance of individuals, the day was not without its share of firsts and commendable achievements. Rajat Patidar earned his Test cap for India, causing much anticipation among the spectators and analysts alike. Across the fence, debutant Xavier Bartlett made headlines by claiming his first wicket in international cricket with a delivery that was nothing short of spectacular.
The cricketing fraternity, meanwhile, poured accolades on Yashasvi Jaiswal for securing his second Test century, an inning that carved out space for hope and promise among the future ranks of Indian cricket. As the match progresses, the spotlight will undoubtedly follow the players’ every move, observing potential for greatness as well as the pitfalls of complacency in this high-stakes duel between two cricketing giants.