India Battles Back with Siraj and Krishna's Heroics on Day 2

In a gripping Day 2 of the fifth Test at The Oval, India staged a remarkable comeback thanks to the stellar bowling efforts of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Both bowlers captured three wickets each, putting England on the back foot as they finished their innings at 215/7, just nine runs behind India.

Prasidh Krishna's early strikes after lunch shook England's batting order, with critical dismissals of Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton. The hosts, who started the second session at a solid 109/1 with Zak Crawley (52*) and Ollie Pope (12*) in command, saw their foundation crumble as Krishna and Siraj tightened the screws.

Joe Root, a key player for England, persistently attacked the Indian seamers but eventually fell to Siraj, equaling a notable feat surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's runs in home Tests. As the innings closed, a fiery yorker from Siraj also claimed Jacob Bethell's wicket. Earlier, Gus Atkinson's five-wicket haul and England's strong opening stand had initially put India under pressure, but the visitors' bowling renaissance now sets the stage for an intriguing contest.

(With inputs from agencies.)