India v England: KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja build first-Test lead in Hyderabad

Rahul was batting at number four in the absence of Virat Kohli

England already face a huge task to get back into the first Test after India built a commanding lead on day two in Hyderabad.

The home side moved to 421-7, 175 ahead of England's 246 all out on a pitch destined only to get harder for batting.

KL Rahul, dropped on nought in the first over of the day by Ben Foakes, made 86, while Ravindra Jadeja twice overturned being given out to move to an unbeaten 81.

England's spinners were improved from the assault they endured on the first evening, but still struggled to combine potency with accuracy. Joe Root's off-breaks were England's most dangerous weapon.

Root and debutant Tom Hartley each took two wickets, though England were largely relying on Indian indiscretions for their successes.

More worryingly, senior spinner Jack Leach, playing his first cricket since June because of a back injury, bowled only 16 overs in the day because of a knee problem.

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Size of England's task confirmed

Mark Wood has bowled 13 wicketless overs for 43 runs

England would have been under no illusions as to the magnitude on their task on this tour. Captain Ben Stokes called India a "beast" in this country, where they have not lost a Test series since 2012.

England competed well for the majority of day one and might have felt aggrieved that India had managed to move to 119-1, 127 behind.

The tourists enjoyed the better start to day two - Root removed Yashasvi Jaiswal for 80 in the first over and Hartley got Shubman Gill for his first Test wicket. From there on, though, India took control in front of 28,000 spectators as the country celebrated Republic Day.

How different might the day have been had Rahul been held by Foakes? The Surrey keeper, one of the best glovemen in the world, was picked to hold just this type of chance.

Still, there is no escaping the reality that England's spinners lack the control, experience and skill of the Indians. There is no shame in that, but if the five-Test series is played out on pitches similar to this one, England will have to hold every half-chance in the field and their batters will have to score mountains of runs.

That work with the bat should begin on Saturday, with the first aim being simply to ensure India have to bat again. India have never lost a home Test when taking a first-innings lead of 100 or more.

Inexperienced England exposed

Even on this pitch, England's selection seemed a gamble. Hartley is on debut, Rehan Ahmed a 19-year-old in his second Test and Leach is struggling. When James Anderson appeared as a sub fielder, one wondered of the control England's all-time leading wicket-taker might have offered.

England did not manage a maiden in the morning session but Root, who did not bowl on Thursday, made things happen and Hartley, after conceding 63 in nine overs the previous evening, was rewarded for a better length by Gill's hack to mid-wicket.

However, a full toss or long-hop was never far away and Stokes, as is his style, rarely had more than two fielders back. As Ahmed put together a spell either side of lunch, he bowled England's first maidens and had Shreyas Iyer caught in the deep in the leg side for 35. However, Rahul then carted two sixes as the final three in Ahmed's 10-over stint leaked 25 runs.

With Leach's longest spell coming in at four overs, Stokes had few options. Mark Wood bowled 11 in the day, his pace negated by the pitch, and it was telling that Root bowled more than anyone else, including taking the second new ball in a spell of 16 overs unchanged.

There were times when England felt aggrieved by umpiring decisions after burning all three of their reviews on day one, though neither of an lbw shout against Rahul nor a bat-pad catch off Jadeja would have been given out on referral.

At one stage, Root switched the bails in an attempt to change England's luck. It worked, Root himself got one to keep low to have the sweeping KS Bharat lbw and Ravichandran Ashwin was run out in a mix-up with Jadeja but, by then, India were well ahead.

No Kohli, no problem

Jadeja averages 58.06 in home Tests since the start of 2018

Without Virat Kohli, out of the first two Tests for personal reasons, India are missing their talisman and biggest star. In his absence, Rahul - batting in Kohli's spot at number four - and Jadeja, perhaps the next most beloved member of the team, stepped up.

Rahul could have gone second ball. Root found extra bounce and took the edge, only for a catchable chance to deflect off Foakes' thumb. The umpire gave byes and England had no reviews, but a strong appeal may have forced umpire Chris Gaffaney to rethink.

Reprieved, Rahul needed some fortune to deal with Wood's bouncers, drove Hartley down the ground and clobbered Ahmed. He was set for a hundred only to hole out like so many of his team-mates, dragging a woefully short Hartley delivery straight to Ahmed at deep mid-wicket.

Rahul had added 65 with Jadeja, who then shared 68 with wicketkeeper Bharat. The left-hander successfully reviewed on 17 when given out to a bat-pad catch off Leach, then again on 49 when Root thought he had an lbw.

Playing beautifully straight, including a six apiece lofted down the ground off Leach and Hartley, Jadeja celebrated his half-century with his trademark swordsman's swish of the bat, bringing the loudest cheer of the day.

Even after Bharat and Ashwin fell in the space of two overs, there was still time for Jadeja to add a painstaking 63 with Axar Patel, further sucking the life from the weary tourists.

Left-hander Axar smashed the final three balls for boundaries - two fours and a six off Hartley - to end on 35 not off and walk off alongside Jadeja with his side in complete control.

'It is going to take a humongous effort from England' - reaction

India batter KL Rahul on TNT Sports: "All of us have grown up on wickets like this. There is a bit of turn but the pace is a bit slow and it got slower and slower, which was a challenge.

"We didn't have any targets in mind, we just wanted to put as many runs on the board as possible."

Former England fast bowler Steven Finn: "It was clearly India's day again. They went up and down the gears nicely throughout the day.

"They end the day with a huge lead in the context of this game and they have set themselves up beautifully to ram that home tomorrow.

"India are in the box seat and it is going to take a humongous effort from England to drag themselves back into it."

England bowling coach Jeetan Patel on TNT Sports: "A tough day for us but the guys put in a fantastic effort.

"It would have been nice if a few opportunities went our way but India batted really well, they put on some great partnerships. But we are really proud at the way we kept coming ball after ball and creating opportunities."