'India Are Playing on England's Ego' - Formar cricketers and experts question timing of declaration in 2nd Test at Edgbaston

India's decision to delay their declaration in the second innings of the second Test versus England has faced backlash from a number of former players and cricket analysts. Even though the Shubman Gill-led side held a sizeable lead, they batted for almost an hour in the third session on day 4 before declaring and setting England a target of 608 runs. This left India with just over three sessions and one hour to bowl out England and push for a win.

With rain predicted on the fifth day, which eventually caused delays, many felt that India had wasted precious time. Critics pointed out that the declaration came too late. Former England cricketer Ian Ward suggested that India was playing mind games with England, especially after Ben Stokes had made his team's fourth-innings chasing confidence very clear.

Before the match, Stokes had boldly stated, "We're confident in our abilities to be able to go out and chase when we have to bat in the fourth innings." That statement came after England had successfully chased 371 in the first Test at Leeds.

Experts React to India's Strategy

Speaking on Sky Sports, Ian Ward said, "We always hear England and Ben Stokes say, 'we'll try to chase anything to win.' India is just playing on that here; that's the only reason I can think of as to why they've declared so late. They're playing on England's ego, confidence, mantra, or whatever you want to call it."

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Mark Butcher, another former England player, also questioned India’s approach, calling the timing of the declaration "a bit baffling." He added, "It is a legacy, a tribute, to the fear Stokes and England put into teams when setting fourth-innings targets. India wants to make sure England is completely and utterly out of it, and then you ask a team reticent to draw games whether they can do it. India could have given themselves more time to win the game by scoring faster."

"But whether that turns out to be the right thing to do, we will find out tomorrow, but for now it is a little bit baffling," Butcher concluded.