'His century gave me goosebumps' - Ben Duckett heaps huge praise on Ollie Pope

'His century gave me goosebumps' - Ben Duckett heaps huge praise on Ollie Pope. (Source -Photo by Nigel French/PA Images via Getty Images)

Hosts England made a roaring comeback in the ongoing first Test against India, largely thanks to a solid unbeaten ton from Ollie Pope and his partnership with Ben Duckett. The pair stitched together a crucial 122-run stand under immense pressure, restricting India's early dominance. At stumps on Day 2, England's scorecard read 209 for 3, trailing India’s first-innings total of 471 by 262 runs, with Pope still at the crease.

Against India's ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Pope soaked the pressure well and got his side back in the game. Duckett, who made 62 before falling to Bumrah, spoke highly of the No. 3 batter.

"I just think he was so calm coming out. He probably couldn't walk out in tougher conditions-with Jasprit (Bumrah) running down the hill with the lights on. I think at one point he was around 50 or run a ball 50, so it was a great partnership with him. I always have a good time out there in the middle with him, and I got goosebumps when he got to 100. You could see what it meant to him. He's such a big part of the dressing room, and it was just great to see him be there at 100 not out," Duckett said.

England makes roaring comeback

Earlier in the day, India looked to post a bigger total after Rishabh Pant's 134 and Shubman Gill’s 147 guided the visitors to 430/3. However, a post-lunch collapse saw them lose seven wickets for 41 runs in just 68 balls, bundling out for 471.

Meanwhile, Bumrah shone with the ball, removing Zak Crawley in the very first over. Notably, Duckett was dropped on 15 by Jadeja, and Pope survived multiple chances, edging just short on 10 and escaping an lbw on 34 before being dropped by Yashasvi Jaiswal on 60 - all off Bumrah’s bowling. Bumrah, who ended the day with figures of 3 for 48, was India’s only bowler to put up some fight. He dismissed Duckett, Joe Root (28), and Crawley, and even had Harry Brook caught in the final over, only for a frontfoot no-ball to deny him.