India's decision to declare in their second innings during the second Test against England has sparked criticism from former players and cricket analysts. After establishing a substantial lead, Shubman Gill's team batted for nearly an hour into the final session of Day 4 before declaring, setting England a daunting target of 608 runs. This left India with just over three sessions to dismiss the opposition, including one session on Day 4 and two on the final day.

With rain predicted for Day 5, which ultimately occurred, many questioned whether India missed a strategic opportunity by delaying their declaration. Several experts suggested that the declaration came too late. Veteran England batsman Ian Ward remarked that India seemed to be trying to exploit England's aggressive mindset, especially since Ben Stokes had made it clear that his team would aim for victory regardless of the target.

In an interview with Sky Sports, Ian Ward stated, "It is a legacy, a tribute, to the fear Stokes and England instill in teams when setting fourth-innings targets. India aims to ensure England is completely out of contention, and then you challenge a team hesitant to settle for a draw. India could have afforded themselves more time to secure the win by scoring at a quicker pace," remarked Mark Butcher.

Former England cricketer Mark Butcher expressed confusion over the timing of the declaration, calling it "a bit baffling." He speculated that India might have been overly cautious due to the respect they hold for the threat posed by Stokes and his team, ensuring the target was well beyond reach before handing over the ball.

Butcher reiterated, "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 reluctant to draw games whether they can do it. India could have given themselves more time to win the game by scoring faster."

He concluded, "Whether that turns out to be the right decision will be revealed tomorrow, but for now, it is somewhat perplexing."

Ultimately, the delayed declaration has led to discussions about whether India squandered their advantage in pursuit of psychological dominance.