Kolkata: When India lost seven wickets for just 41 runs on the second day of the first Test at Headingley, Leeds, on Saturday, after Rishabh Pant hit his seventh Test century, we learned the hard way that three outstanding sessions are not enough to win a Test.

Jasprit Bumrah brought India back into contention by taking three wickets, including a beautiful curve that sent Zak Crawley back early, but Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope answered with a forceful counterattack, scoring 122 runs at close to five runs each over.

Bumrah ultimately grabbed Duckett after two drops, bringing that dangerous second-wicket partnership to an end. However, Pope was also let go, and he skillfully exploited that lifeline to reach his ninth Test century, contributing to England's successful effort to reduce India's first innings total of 471.

Ten minutes before stumps, Bumrah once more sent Joe Root packing as England ended the day with a respectable score of 209/3, with Pope and Harry Brook still at the crease. India might have been four down if Bumrah hadn't overstepped while Siraj caught Brook in the final over of the day, but that's how the day has gone for India.

Given the ominous cloud cover and the brief burst of drizzle that somewhat postponed the beginning of England's innings, the proceedings came to an anticlimactic close. Although Bumrah bowled with the expertise of an accomplished practitioner, neither Mohammed Siraj nor Prasidh Krishna were able to provide sufficient support, leaving India appearing clueless whenever Bumrah was given a break.

India's choice to use only one spinner is likely beginning to backfire, even if it shouldn't have happened this way. Although Jadeja was introduced as early as the 18th over, the surface was still too favorable for England for him to be a threat. In the 40th over, Shardul Thakur, India's fifth bowling option, made his debut, but judging by the three overs he bowled (for 23 runs), it would take something truly exceptional for him to break through.

The question arises as to whether India erred on the side of caution by not selecting Kuldeep Yadav. On reflection, it seems like including Yadav may have helped India, since a wrist spinner is able to spin the ball on almost any surface. The team choice and the manner in which Jadeja and Thakur were employed were the same way that Gill's predecessors have approached protecting India's batting lineup on foreign soil, despite Gill's courageous statement that five bowlers were non-negotiable for him.

The choice did not benefit India's first innings all that much, as Thakur scored one run and Jadeja eleven. It was especially important to finish well because this was one of the few foreign Tests in which India had a strong start at batting. Not even that was accomplished.

However, Bumrah put India in the game right away, squaring up Crawley with a ball that hit middle stump before seaming away to Karun Nair at first slip and taking his outer edge. A difficult opportunity nearly missed Duckett before Pope's edge flew through a vacant fourth slip, perhaps signaling his departure on 1. After that, Bumrah walked around the wicket and made Duckett slice him directly to Ravindra Jadeja at backward point, but he was unable to catch it.

Pope reached his fifty with the first delivery after tea, a streaky four that sailed past second slip and knocked Bumrah off his game. Pope was compelled to drive a back of the length delivery by Bumrah a few overs later, but it turned out to be a thick edge that Jaiswal almost caught at third slip. Bumrah ultimately hit back Duckett's middle stump, providing some sort of respite, but Root and Pope continued to steal singles and twos to keep the scoreboard moving. India must be lamenting having England's bowlers on the mat at 430/3 after their undefeated stand proved that this pitch is still a wonderful one for hitting.

Gill, the overnight batter, was displaying no signs of weakness against an England bowling attack that was running out of ideas, as he maintained his commanding vigil. With a floated delivery that induced Gill to go off his line and play across it, Shoaib Bashir earned a much-deserved breakthrough. Josh Tongue had no trouble grabbing the catch at deep backward square leg after he caught the toe end of the bat. By then though, Pant had entered his zone, slicing through the English bowling — particularly Bashir — and galloping to a remarkable century.

However, India was quickly running out of choices for players that could raise the score over 500 due to a lack of backing from the other side. Pope jumped at full length to his left to seize an uppish drive out of nowhere, ending Karun Nair's amazing comeback in just four deliveries.

Pant was trapped directly in front after shouldering arms to an approaching delivery from Tongue six runs later. That hastened India's collapse because neither Jadeja nor Thakur were able to provide a much-needed lower-order stand. With skipper Ben Stokes making a commendable 4/66, three of which were India's top five batsmen, the Tongue finished with 4/86, completing England's turnaround.

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