August 2, 2025: India’s post-Lunch session began on a sour note as captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for a duck, narrowly missing out on Sunil Gavaskar’s record for the most runs by an Indian in a single Test series. First innings star Gus Atkinson claimed the crucial wicket, putting a brief halt to India’s momentum.
Despite the setback, India remains in a strong position, extending their lead over England to 177 runs with a score of 200/4 after 48 overs. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is approaching a well-deserved century, while first-innings half-centurion Karun Nair provides steady support at the other end.
The morning session was a resounding success for India, largely thanks to a heroic effort from nightwatchman Akash Deep. The lower-order batsman defied expectations, smashing 12 boundaries en route to a career-best 66, his first-ever Test fifty. With India needing a victory to level the series, Jaiswal and Nair will be crucial in building a formidable lead to put pressure back on the English side.