India vs England, 3rd Test, Day 2: 3 talking points from the game at Trent Bridge

At the end of the second day's play, India are at 124/2 and have managed to whip up a significant lead of 292 runs over the Englishmen. Courtesy, the stupendous performance exhibited by their all-rounder Hardik Pandya along with the backing of Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami, the visitors managed to decimate the hosts to a total of 161.

The Indian pace attack has surely set a platform for a victory in the 3rd Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. A triumph at this stage would not only boost up the players' morale and confidence but, it would also set the tone for the team's momentum to carry on the winning spree for remaining competitions.

Here are the 3 talking points from the second day's play at Trent Bridge which managed to captivate the viewers' attention.

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#3 Dhawan, Rahul, and Pujara kept the scoreboard ticking for the Indian unit

The opening duo of Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul helped team India in getting off to a decent total in the initial stages of their innings. While they could only contribute scores of 44 and 36 respectively, the level of aggression and the intent which the duo exhibited while taking on the English attack perhaps stole the show for the Indian team.

Following their departure, it was Cheteshwar Pujara who unleashed a flurry of boundaries to notch up a score of 33 of 67 deliveries and in the process ensured that the scoreboard kept ticking against any circumstances.

#2 England crumbles to a paltry total of 161

Jos Buttler was the lone warrior for England

England failed to notch up even a single rock-steady partnership which could have helped them ensure a dominance over the hosts during their play. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals, courtesy the impeccable bowling display from the visiting unit.

Apart from Jos Buttler (39), no other batsmen could establish a strong foothold in the middle. While Cook (29) and Jennings (20) were eyeing to lay a solid foundation for the 1st wicket partnership, their quick dismissals on the respective deliveries of Ishant and Bumrah created a deep void into the English batting unit.

England's middle-order couldn't sustain the variations introduced by the Indian bowling attack and lost their wickets in a sheepish manner against the likes of Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Ishant Sharma.

In fact, such was the dominance of the Indian spearheads, that none of the English players could raise a stand against them in the battle that followed. Neither Root (16) nor Bairstow (15) could add to the team's total. Even their all-rounder Ben Stokes (10) and the Lord's Test hero Chris Woakes (8) succumbed to paltry totals.

#1 Hardik Pandya shines like a bright diamond in the sky

Hardik Pandya was at his lethal best

The 24-year-old was enjoying a ripper of a time during the second day's play at Trent Bridge. He picked up a five-wicket haul at the expense of 28 runs in mere 6 overs of gameplay and also registered his career-best figures in the red-ball cricket.

Hardik tore apart the English batting lineup and rendered them useless to inflict even the slightest of damage against the Indian unit.

Though he couldn't contribute much with the bat in the 1st innings, his scintillating performance with the ball in the 2nd innings of the game helped team India decimate the English unit to a meagre total of 161.

With this performance, Hardik has not only zipped his critics who were popping questions regarding his all-round prowess but, he has also solidified his position in the playing XI for a remaining couple of contests.