IND vs ENG Live Score, 3rd Test Day 2: India concludes their batting innings with a total of 445 runs on the second day of the third Test at the Niranjan Shah Cricket Stadium in Rajkot.
Showcasing England’s dynamic Bazball cricket style on the second day of the 3rd Test against India in Rajkot, star batsman Ben Duckett played a sensational innings, notching up a swift century as Ben Stokes’ squad reached a formidable 207-2 in just 35 overs. Meanwhile, seasoned spinner Ravichandran Ashwin achieved a significant milestone by securing his 500th Test wicket after Tea in Rajkot. Pacer Mohammed Siraj made a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Ollie Pope (39) before the conclusion of the third session. Duckett’s century stands out as the fastest by an England batter in India. As the day concludes, England finds themselves trailing India by 238 runs at Stumps on Day 2 in Rajkot.
On Day 2, India posted a total of 445 in their first innings, fueled by significant contributions from Dhruv Jurel (46), Ravichandran Ashwin (37), and Jasprit Bumrah (26). The partnership between Ashwin and Jurel proved pivotal, adding 77 runs for the eighth wicket. Despite early setbacks with the dismissals of Kuldeep Yadav (4) and Ravindra Jadeja (112) in the opening hour, debutant Jurel displayed remarkable composure, exhibiting commendable grit and patience against the English bowling attack. Ashwin took charge of the run-scoring duties while Jurel adapted to the situation, resulting in a resilient 50+ run partnership for the eighth wicket.
In England’s bowling effort, James Anderson made a breakthrough on Day 2 by claiming his first wicket of the innings. He delivered an effective opening blow to India, dismissing nightwatchman Kuldeep with an outside edge. On the other hand, Joe Root displayed his bowling prowess, outsmarting Jadeja with a delivery that sharply turned. Jadeja, attempting a flick shot, ended up with a thick edge, sending the ball straight back to Root, who secured the catch without any mistake.
Mark Wood emerged as the standout bowler, finishing as the highest wicket-taker in the innings with impressive figures of 4/114. Rehan Ahmed also made valuable contributions, claiming two wickets in quick succession by dismissing Ashwin and Jurel.
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On Day 1, Rohit Sharma’s 11th Test century and Ravindra Jadeja’s fourth Test century, celebrated with spirited sword-swinging gestures, set the stage for a commanding 204-run partnership, shifting the momentum in India’s favor. However, a sudden turn of events occurred when Rohit mistimed a pull shot, providing England with an opportunity to capitalize on triggering another middle-lower order collapse. To their surprise, debutant Sarfaraz Khan turned the tables, adopting a fearless Bazball approach to score a scintillating fifty. Despite an unfortunate run-out due to a misjudgment by Jadeja, India concluded the day at 326/5, with Jadeja remaining unbeaten on 110.
Despite the centuries from Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, the true standout performer was Sarfaraz Khan. Amidst persistent calls for his inclusion, the Mumbai batsman showcased his mettle on the big stage. Displaying remarkable composure, he outpaced Jadeja, contributing 43 of the initial 50 runs the duo compiled. Sarfaraz’s ability to confidently chip down the wicket to spinners and execute sweeping shots could easily mislead anyone into thinking he’s a seasoned veteran with 50 Tests under his belt. However, given his extensive grind in domestic cricket, that perception might not be far off. With his father and wife cheering from the stands, Sarfaraz, unfazed after getting off the mark with a single in Test cricket, pressed on relentlessly. Although his innings was curtailed at 62, Sarfaraz offered a tantalizing glimpse of what lies ahead.
The Rajkot pitch didn’t pose significant challenges, lacking any pronounced demons. Rohit Sharma’s reaction to the early dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill hinted at a track that might favor batting even more on Day 2. However, a few deliveries from the England bowlers did catch the attention of both their batsmen and India’s bowlers. Tom Hartley, in particular, managed to extract grip and turn as early as the 12th over, and towards the end of the day, some deliveries even kept unusually low. Ravindra Jadeja, currently wielding the bat, would be relishing the conditions and hoping that his earlier prediction about Ravichandran Ashwin securing his historic 500th Test wicket comes to fruition.
India vs England: Day 3 Key Highlights:
- Ben Duckett notched his 3rd century off 88 balls, showcasing a brilliant batting display.
- Ravichandran Ashwin reached a historic milestone by dismissing Zack Crawley, claiming his 500th Test wicket in the 13th over.
- India posted a total of 445 in the first innings.
- Dhruv Jurel fell just four runs short of his half-century but played a crucial role in a resilient 77-run partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin (37).
- Ravindra Jadeja scored a commendable 112, contributing significantly to India’s total before being dismissed in the first session.
- Debutant Dhruv Jurel exhibited commendable composure, remaining unbeaten on 31 off 71 deliveries at Lunch.
- England commenced their innings at 5/0 after Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were penalized for running down the middle of the pitch.