Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal had game-changing innings to put India ahead in Rajkot during the third session, which they controlled. India's position against England was solidified after Jaiswal and Gill scored more than 150 runs for the second wicket after captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed for only 19. As India reached 196/2 at Stumps in Rajkot, Jaiswal scorched 104 off 133 balls, while Gill stayed unbeaten on 65 alongside nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav (3). India's advantage against England grew to 322 runs.
Image Source: Twitter
After reaching his century, Jaiswal gave England a lesson in the traditional method of scoring runs with the same flair before leaving the game due to back pain. Before letting free against two fatigued fast bowlers and inexperienced spinners, he was 35 off 73 balls. As if to prove a point to the visitors, the following 65 runs in his century came off just 49 balls and were every bit as stroke-filled as Duckett's, including several straight sixes and a few sweeps. India needed to get a foothold against the English hitters who were on a rampage. And Joe Root gave them just that chance.
On Day 3, England had a strong first fifteen minutes, but India took over the game after that. In the first session, the visitors lost three significant wickets, and in the second, they crumbled badly. With two wickets at the end, Kuldeep Yadav proved unplayable, and Mohammed Siraj claimed four. After Joe Root was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah in the opening session, Kuldeep grabbed Jonny Bairstow in the very next over. After keeping England under pressure, Kuldeep ultimately dismissed Ben Duckett on 153 off 151. During the first session, Kuldeep was virtually unplayable and England's run rate was just over three, which was half of what it was on Day 2.
After making history on Day 2 by capturing his 500th wicket, veteran spinner-all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin withdrew from the Test match late on Friday citing a family emergency. India will now have to play the remainder of the series without him. India will have their work cut out for them, as England, although losing three wickets, could have been the happier team at the close of the second day.
Image Source: Twitter
India scored 445 runs batting first, but England responded with a powerful effort headed by Ben Duckett. England trails India by 238 runs going into Day 3, having reached 207/2 in just 35 overs. With an overnight score of 133 off just 118 balls, opener Duckett gets things started, while Joe Root is at the other end with nine off 13. During his innings, Duckett has hit an amazing 21 fours and two sixes, helping England score at a pace slightly under six. On Day 2, Ollie Pope fell to Mohammed Siraj on 39 off 55, breaking a 93-run stand he had constructed with Duckett, dealing them a late blow. Before that, Duckett and Zak Crawley enjoyed an opening partnership of 84 runs, achieved in just 80 balls.
The breakthrough for India came when Ravichandran Ashwin got rid of Crawley in the fifteenth over, making history as the second Indian after Anil Kumble to record 500 Test wickets. However, Ashwin withdrew from the match after the day's play on Friday due to a family issue, meaning that India would have to play the remainder of this match without their senior spinner and all-rounder. As a result, India essentially has 10 players to choose from when it comes to batting and bowling, but they may always have a backup fielder available.
Duckett's third test century came off just 88 balls, all after tea. He has hit 21 fours and two sixes in his 118 deliveries so far in the innings. His century beat Graham Gooch's 1990 95-ball century to become the fastest by an England batsman against India. In a test match played in India, Duckett also made history by being the first visitor hitter to score more than 100 runs.
Image Source: Twitter
Earlier, with 326-5 at the end of their first innings, India lost Yadav to a catch for 4 off James Anderson in the fourth over of the morning. Six balls later, century-maker Jadeja sent Root a straightforward return catch, which proved to be the heavier blow. Jadeja only added two more runs to his tally while he was out for 112. In his second test hundred at his home ground, he struck six and nine fours out of 225 deliveries faced overall.
Following the interval, England was given five penalty runs as umpire Joel Wilson punished Ashwin for racing onto the dangerous part of the field. This meant that it was 5-0 when it began its first inning. With a 57-run eighth-wicket partnership between Ashwin and rookie Dhruv Jurel, India reached lunch at 388-7. After lunch, Jurel reached 46 after surviving two missed catches. On his test debut, he scored the third-highest of any Indian keeper-batter.
Rehan Ahmed ultimately came up to Jurel, finishing with a 2-85 score. Jurel and Ashwin scored 77 runs together overall. With a last 30-run partnership with Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah finished with a score of 26 and vexed the visitors. Just before tea, Mark Wood got rid of Bumrah for LBW, ending India's innings at 4-114.
Also Read: IPL 2024 List of Teams and Captains, Time Table, Timing, Venue
Give Your Feedback