Edgbaston, England:
As the high-stakes second Test between India and England enters Day 3 at Edgbaston, the focus shifts sharply to strategy, discipline, and early breakthroughs. With India dominating with the bat on Day 1 and England trying to rebuild after early setbacks, both teams will enter Friday’s play with sharply contrasting goals but similar urgency.
India: Eyes Set on Early Wickets and Control
India, who posted a mammoth 587 in the first innings on the back of a stunning double-century from Shubman Gill (269) and solid support from Ravindra Jadeja (89), will walk out on Day 3 looking to press home the advantage.
England, currently 77 for 3 at stumps on Day 2, still trail India by a significant margin, and India’s first aim will be to break the developing partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook early in the morning session.
With star pacer Jasprit Bumrah rested for this Test, India will rely on Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep to lead the attack. Both bowlers found some swing late on Day 2, and with overcast conditions expected early in the morning, India will look to exploit the moisture and movement on offer.
India’s bowling unit also includes Prasidh Krishna and off-spinner Washington Sundar, who replaced Shardul Thakur to offer depth in both bowling and lower-order batting. If the seamers can create early pressure, Sundar might be used later in the day as the pitch slows down.
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Their key target: dismantle England’s middle order before lunch and potentially force a follow-on or a sizable lead to bat England out of the game.
England: Root, Brook Hold the Key to a Fightback:
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, England’s plans backfired as India racked up a massive score. Now trailing by 510 runs, England’s batters must bat long and bat deep to bring themselves back into the contest.
Joe Root, England’s most experienced batter, and the aggressive Harry Brook are at the crease. Their partnership is pivotal. England’s game plan for Day 3 will likely begin with cautious consolidation in the morning, followed by an aggressive shift once conditions settle and the ball gets older.
England will also be wary of India’s ability to make quick breakthroughs once one wicket falls, so the key message in the dressing room will be to “bat in pairs” and avoid collapses something England have been vulnerable to in recent Tests.
While England’s famed ‘Bazball’ approach aggressive and fearless batting may still come into play, Day 3 will likely see a more balanced method, with Root anchoring and others playing around him.
Conditions:
Weather will play a minor role on Day 3, with cloudy skies forecast for the first session and chances of brief drizzle later in the day. These conditions could assist the Indian seamers early on, making the first hour crucial.
The Edgbaston pitch, which offered pace and bounce on Days 1 and 2, is expected to flatten out as the day progresses. This could make batting easier later on, further emphasizing the importance of early breakthroughs for India.
Match Situation Snapshot
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India 1st innings: 587 all out
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England 1st innings: 77/3 at stumps on Day 2
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England trail by: 510 runs
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Key partnership: Root (batting) and Brook (batting)
Tactical Strategy:
| Team | Game Plan for Day 3 |
|---|---|
| India | Use early morning swing to break Root–Brook stand; rotate seamers; build pressure to force errors. |
| England | Survive the first session; anchor around Root; shift gears later with Bazball intent to avoid follow-on. |
As Day 3 dawns, the match remains delicately poised. If India strikes early, they will have a golden chance to dictate the rest of the Test. But if Root and Brook settle in and build a strong stand, England may yet claw their way back into the match and set up a thrilling finish in Birmingham.
