LONDON — England’s hopes of securing a series-levelling victory in the decisive final Test against India at The Oval suffered a significant blow on the second day as crucial dropped catches allowed the visitors to seize momentum. Late lapses in the field, including missed opportunities to dismiss key batsmen, left England ruing what could have been a dominant position.
Costly Errors Shift Momentum
India, resuming their first innings at 326/5, were given multiple lifelines as England’s fielders failed to hold onto catches at critical moments. The most damaging drop came when Cheteshwar Pujara, on 91, edged a delivery from James Anderson to second slip, where Joe Root spilled a straightforward chance. "It’s those moments that define Test matches," said former England captain Nasser Hussain on commentary. "Root has been so reliable, but that could be the turning point."
Pujara went on to convert his reprieve into a gritty century, anchoring India’s innings and frustrating England’s bowlers. The hosts’ frustration was compounded when Jonny Bairstow failed to gather a sharp chance off Rishabh Pant, who was on 42 at the time. Pant, known for his aggressive batting, capitalized on the error with a flurry of boundaries, pushing India past 400.
Key Missed Chances:
- Pujara (91) – Dropped by Root off Anderson
- Pant (42) – Spilled by Bairstow
- Jadeja (28) – Misfield at midwicket
England’s fielding coach, Carl Hopkinson, admitted afterward that the team had fallen short of their usual standards. "We pride ourselves on being one of the best fielding sides in the world, but today was below par. Those chances have to be taken at this level."
India Capitalize on Let-Offs
India’s lower order made England pay dearly for their mistakes. Ravindra Jadeja, who survived a tough caught-behind appeal early in his innings, added 78 runs with Pant before the latter fell for a blistering 89. The partnership shifted the momentum firmly in India’s favor, with the tourists finishing the day at 416/7.
Former England fast bowler Steven Finn highlighted the psychological impact of the drops. "When you’re chasing the game, those missed chances drain the energy from the fielding side. India’s batsmen sensed the opportunity and played with real intent." The frustration was evident in England’s body language, with captain Ben Stokes seen remonstrating with his teammates after the Pujara drop.
England’s Uphill Battle
With India likely to push beyond 450 on day three, England face a daunting task to stay in the contest. Their batting lineup, which has struggled for consistency this series, will need to produce a substantial response. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will be under pressure to lay a solid foundation, but India’s seamers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, will be buoyed by their team’s strong position.
Stokes acknowledged the challenge ahead but remained defiant. "We’ve been in tougher spots before and fought our way back. This team doesn’t shy away from adversity. We’ll come out tomorrow with the same intent we’ve shown all series." However, former England opener Michael Vaughan was less optimistic, tweeting: "Dropped catches lose Test matches. England have let India off the hook, and it could cost them the series."
Conclusion: A Day of Regrets
The second day at The Oval may well be remembered as the moment England let slip their chance to control the final Test. While India’s batsmen deserve credit for their resilience, England’s fielding lapses have left them playing catch-up. As the series hangs in the balance, the hosts must regroup quickly to avoid a repeat of their mistakes.
With three days remaining, the match is finely poised, but the psychological advantage now lies with India. As Pujara noted after stumps, "In Test cricket, you have to make the most of every opportunity. We did that today, and it’s put us in a strong position." England, meanwhile, will need a near-perfect performance from here to salvage the series.