India vs England 2nd Test: Visakhapatnam, a not-so-old cricket ground for big international matches, especially Test games, is where the action unfolds. The Dr. YS Rajashekar Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam is buzzing with excitement as it gets ready for the second Test showdown between India and England.
India vs England 2nd test match kicks off this Friday, and India is on a mission to recover from a surprising loss in the first Test in Hyderabad.
In the previous game, India took a strong 190-run lead in the first innings and had England struggling at 163/5 in their second innings. Key English players like Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, and Ben Stokes were dismissed with minimal contributions.
However, Ollie Pope turned the tables with an outstanding performance, scoring 196 runs. This remarkable effort set a target of 231 for India to chase.
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Debutant spinner Tom Hartley, who had a tough start in India’s first innings, made a stunning comeback, taking 7 wickets for 62 runs. England, against all odds, clinched victory by 28 runs, shaking up the series and giving India a run for their money at home.
Now, let’s explore the YSR ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. It’s a relatively new addition to the cricket scene in India, especially for Test matches. Since 2005, it has hosted 10 ODIs and four T20Is since 2016 but has only witnessed two Test matches so far.
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane to the past Tests in Visakhapatnam. The first Test match at this venue took place in 2016 against England. Virat Kohli, the captain of India, won the toss and chose to bat. Despite a shaky start, with openers Murali Vijay and KL Rahul dismissed early, centuries from Kohli (167) and Cheteshwar Pujara (119), along with a half-century from Ravichandran Ashwin (58), helped India post a substantial score of 455.
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Ashwin then showcased his brilliance with a five-wicket haul, bowling out England for 255. India set a challenging target of 405 in the second innings, and with Ashwin, Jayant Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Shami taking wickets, England crumbled at 158, giving India a victory by 246 runs.
The second Test in 2019 marked a turning point for India’s current captain, Rohit Sharma. Known for his success in limited-overs cricket, Rohit was given the role of an opener, and he embraced it with style.
In the first match against South Africa, he, along with Mayank Agarwal, set a colossal 317-run opening stand. Rohit scored 176 off just 244 balls, making an immediate impact. Agarwal, too, contributed significantly with 215 runs as India declared at 502/7.
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In response, South Africa put up a fight with centuries from Dean Elgar (160) and Quinton de Kock (111). However, Ashwin’s seven-wicket haul limited them to 431. Rohit continued his stellar performance with another century in the second innings, helping India declare at 323/4 and setting a target of 395. The Proteas crumbled for 191, and with Shami and Jadeja shining with the ball, India secured a 203-run victory.
Visakhapatnam’s cricket ground has witnessed some thrilling moments, and the upcoming India vs England 2nd Test promises more excitement and a chance for India to redeem themselves on their home turf.
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