India came into the four-match Test series against England top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) table. Buoyed by their thrilling series win in Australia, and a string of senior players returning to the squad, the hosts were the firm favourites to qualify for the final against New Zealand at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in June.

However, England delivered a sucker punch and knocked India off their perch on top of the WTC standings after registering a comprehensive 227-run victory in the first Test in Chennai. The win took England to the top of the table, with India slipping to fourth.

With the second Test underway on Saturday, India are now in a ‘must not lose’ position as another loss will eliminate them from contention for the final berth. 

India will need another spectacular comeback in order to record a 2-1 or a 3-1 win over England, the only two scenarios that will ensure their qualification. 

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While England were head and shoulders above India in the first Test, they will need to record a huge upset and beat India by a 3-0, 3-1 or a 4-0 margin. 

Australia, who pulled out of their scheduled tour to South Africa – ensuring New Zealand’s qualification – will be watching the series closely as a series draw, or a 2-1, 1-0, 2-0 win for England will see them go through to the Lord’s final. 

England got off to the best possible start in the opening day of the second Test on Saturday, with Olly Stone dismissing Shubman Gill in the third delivery of the second over. 

Spinner Jack Leach induced an edge from Cheteshwar Pujara with Ben Stokes taking a regulation catch in the slips but Moeen Ali delivered the biggest blow, as he clean bowled skipper Virat Kohli for a duck. 

However, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane took control of the innings from that point, stringing together a 100-run partnership to steady the ship. Sharma also struck his seventh Test century and his first against England.