India vs England Highlights, 3rd Test Day 4: IND beat ENG by 434 runs in Rajkot to take 2-1 lead in series

We were outplayed by india. We were Real strong position going into day3. Things always don't go how you want it to.There would be emotion and disappointment in dressing room. We make sure it just stays there. We have 2 test matches to winRoot form: he loves responsibility of bowling, Soi don't think that's affecting him.Batting approach will be more refined hence? "No not at all. Our batting line up is full of international class players. To go outv there and play with freedom. We have been able to do that in periods but not carried it. I don't need to change. Look at execution of shots and was this the shot I wanted to play.Root's was turning point. We can leave the decision making to it. He wanted to play that too make bowlers change mindset...Pitch ? "They were able to put lot of people around bat. Not unlike first test match when we were trying to bowl out india. Pressure does get into you. We can't compare bowling line ups. Pitch was flat first two days and then assistance came in

Expected to finish so quickly? "Honestly no, I thought it will go to fifth day. 130 overs we felt was more than enough to get them out. We were comfortable but by no means we did think it will finish today

Let jaiswal play. Abhi khel raha haii. He is in good form. Let it continue. Abhi k liye itna kaafi hai

Even Vizag test was very much in balance when they started thier 4th innings. This was also satisfying. Every test match win is satisfying. You got to work really really hard for 4-5 days. Both these tests were important in context of series .. we were good with our plans and executed on field.

Yeah we lost Ashwin also. When you lose your most experienced test bowler in middle of test. When news came , there was no second thoughts in our mind that he should do what's the right thing to do. Shows hus character of putting team bahead that he found a way to come back

I have not seen Sarfaraz bat that much. But I have heard from Bombay players that he has scored runs in difficult situations. And big runs . It gives an idea about his personality. Very hungry for runs and been scoring consistently. We didn't discuss plans- we knew khula chod do toh kaam kar lega. That's what's I heard from Bombay players also. He did seem nervous at morning if test.. But once gane started he brought energy into match. Felt really good to see him score

Flexible as bowling captain :"They played shots of really good balls (in first innings). Even in the first test for that matter, pope. As a captain is about sticking to plans. Bowlers have  played lots they know to keep to strenghts. I am flexible as captain and discuss with bowlers about how comfortable they are with field sets and backing them"

Biggest margin from 33 for 3: "it s a good feeling to win a game like that. Especially with a young team. Not lots of matches among them. We learned alot from playing in hyd and vizag. We knew it was not going to be easy to come here and win series. Lots of credit to young boys will have shown character and they belong here and want to belong here as well..we talk about benchstrength and we saw it

Jaddu we have seen over years. Understands conditions and his gane really well. This is his home ground and he knows it better than most. Of late he has scored runs here and outside India. Don't have to tell him much when he is bowling

"We have won matches on such tracks. Turners is ourb strength and gave us results. We didn't decide rank Turner or not in this series. We come 2 days before game and play on whatever curator gives. Everyone's know what sort of pitches wen played in south Africa. Here in this series different pitches

Ben Duckett played an unbelievable innings. That was the tone we wanted to set throughout the innings. It was about identifying that opportunity and getting as close to India's total. We wanted to bowl yesterday but it was earlier than when we wanted. Sometimes gameplans don't work and that was the case. Everyone's got a perception and opinion about things, the people in the dressing room is what matters to us. 1-2 down in the series and a great opportunity for us to come back and win the series. We leave this game behind and we know we have to win the next 2 games to win the series and that's what we would look to do.

I’m just trying to make it big whenever I’m set. In Test cricket you never know, I try to make sure I play as long as I can when I’m set. It was pretty difficult, initially I was not getting runs so I had to play the session and play the bowler. Then when I got set I could score the runs. I had my plans about where I could play my shots and get runs. After some time, my back was not good. I didn’t want to go out but I had to go out because it was too much. When I came back I tried to give myself time and take it as deep as I can. I knew that if I was there I would take the game forward and be there till the end. (On taking it slow initially) I was feeling there was something in the wicket and the ball was very hard, I knew it was important for me to give the team a very good start, as we have seen it has a huge impact on the team. I feel like whenever I am set I need to make it big. As all my seniors have said, when you are set, make it big and make it count. The way Rohit (Sharma) bhai and Jaddu (Jadeja) bhai played in the first innings really inspired me. The way they played session by session was incredible, the way they put effort motivated all of us.

Ravindra Jadeja has been named the player of the match in his hometown because of his fifer with the ball and his century.

India beat England by a resounding 434-run margin in the third Test at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot to take a 2-1 lead in the series on Sunday.

Led by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s belligerent second-innings double-hundred, India set a mammoth 557-run target for Ben Stokes’ side on Day Four. The visitors crumbled in the chase, eventually being bundled for a 122. (Read more)

That's that. Wood hit one straight down the ground to Jaiswal. This is the biggest margin with India having won a Test match in history. What a game to make a record given where they were on the third morning. Ravindra Jadeja after the magnificent 100 in the first innings delivered a brilliant five-wicket haul today. However, the assault started last evening by Jaiswal when he suddenly flicked the switch after that there was no coming back for England. They lost the momentum and their way completely in the match. Sarfaraz too played magnificently today. As per the chase, it was a very tame performance by England. More than the loss how will England cope with the loss is to be seen. We will be back with all the quotes so do stay with us. 

100 comes up for England in 37.2 overs. They have been scoring at 2.68 runs per over. Earlier Hartley tried to play a ball through covers and got the inside edge onto stumps. More than the loss how England would react to it will be the bigger questions. 

Ravindra Jadeja picks Ben Foakes. The batter tried to cut the ball got the under edge and Jurel took an excellent catch. The game can be extended by 30 minutes now if there are no light issues. Mark Wood has walked into the middle. Jaiswal had an excellent game and Jadeja has gone under the radar. This is a Man of the Match-worthy performance from his side as well. Now it looks like it is only matter of time before the game gets over. 

The ball went past the bat and Ashwin appealed and Rohit after convincing someone decided to send it upstairs and the sound was the ball brushing the shoulder of the batter hence it remained not out. Quite a bit of resistance this pairing has shown so far. The partnership is nearing 30s. The pitch is also doing all sorts of things and every time the ball misbehaves Hartley gets worried and looks to play a shot following ball. If he is playing shots it will give the Indians an opportunity.

Kuldeep appealed for an LBW and was not given in by the umpire Rohit decided to send it upstairs and the ball tracking showed the impact was outside. Ben Foakes is looking. He has played a couple of lovely shots to boundaries. They are putting up some sort of fight here England trying to damage the figures of the bowlers. India would be ecstatic with this performance the way they have turned this game on its head in the last couple of days. 

Ben Stokes and Rehan Ahmed have both departed now. One trying to sweep and the latter trying to hit it down the ground. England has lost seven wickets and this will be the final day of the Test match. Though Ashwin is back at Tea he still did not bowl a single over yet. Yes, there has been a change at the helm but this performance did remind of the Hobart Test in Ashes a few years back. From being in a dominating position a couple of days before this has been utterly shambolic from England here in Rajkot.

Perhaps it’s his relationship with his shayari-loving emotional father that has done rounds in the media, his stocky built and girth, the boyish adolescence which still hasn’t left him when he speaks, his years of waiting while silently performing in domestic cricket, the rags-to-riches story and above all, the way he bats aggressively, Sarfaraz Khan is a box-office hit in Rajkot stadium.

When he walked down the stairs to bat in the second innings, the fans, who were roasting under the hot sun with paper shields, erupted into raucous cheers and many even stood up. For a batsman, playing just his second international innings, it was startling. Another from somewhat similar background and was much loved in his initial days of international cricket was Vinod Kambli. Sarfaraz seems to trigger similar feelings, at least in Rajkot. (Read more from Sriram Veera in Rajkot)

Joe Root after blocking almost eternity out of the blue decides to play a sweep shot and misses the ball it was plum in front. Root reviewed the decision but the ball tracking said it was the umpire's call which is a bit strange as it looked dead in front in the first viewing. This was always coming the way Stokes and Root were batting. Irrespective of what the situation of the game is it becomes important to take the quick single or pressure tends to mount up and end up playing shots which is traditionally a strength of the batter and missing it. Anyways India has lost half their side now. As we update Kuldeep picks Stokes

Meanwhile, Jadeja has gone quietly about his job here. He has bowled 10 overs for absolutely nothing and picked two wickets. He is rushing through the overs as well. He is bowling from the end where there is a bit of rough when the ball is pitched around there the dust is coming out. We might see some indifferent bounce as well come tomorrow morning. As we update Rohit has turned to Kuldeep Yadav now. He bowled magnificently in the first innings if he can replicate that he will bag a lot more wickets this time around. 

Siraj has been brought into the attack and the tactic is pretty clear they are going to bowl stump and stump with a five-four field and wait for the batter either to chip it in the leg-side or miss the ball to get LBW. It is not reversing at the moment but if one ball does with the accuracy Siraj bowled in that last over it might create a lot of problems for the batters. Both Root and Stokes have completely gone into the survival mode. As mentioned in the previous update it is needed now but also they cannot get stuck at one end.

While it is important that Stokes and Root survive here it is also important that they do rotate strike. Stokes tends to just stick at the one end and not rotate the strike and Root is the opposite of that. The way Stokes plays might not be ideal for Root especially since he is out of form. At this point things are fine but once spinners start operating from either end that is when it becomes extremely important that they keep the scoreboard ticking and let the bowlers deal with left-hander and right-hander regularly. 

Stokes and Root are in the middle they are the best batters on this side. It is not even about getting all these runs at this point it is just about getting through the session without getting bowled out that would be the first challenge for England. India have not even unleashed all their options. Bumrah is still operating. Ashwin has a good record against Stokes we might see him replacing Bumrah from one end and Jadeja keep bowling from the other end. 

Ollie Pope tried to cut Jadeja got the edge and Rohit at slip took a good catch. Very similar to the way he got it in the second innings at Vizag. Bumrah bowled a brilliant over to Root and the latter was up to the task and played a lovely square drive. More than England winning if Root can get some runs here they will be very happy as it will give them a chance to get back in the series. As we update Ravindra Jadeja picks Jonny bairstow.

Bumrah continues the over and Joe Root almost got himself LBW. It hit the pad first and then the bat. There was a long discussion but Rohit decided no review. But on replay it seemed lot closer. Ashwin is on the ground we might see him coming on to bowl as well soon. It will be interesting to see how Root will bat here. He did reverse scoop in the first innings and Sunil Gavaskar cheekily questioned on commentary will he do the same thing the first ball. They are looking very uncomfortable here are the English players. As we update Jadeja picks Pope

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his scintillating run by smashing his second Test double hundred against England in the third Test in Rajkot on Sunday.

After retiring hurt on 104 overnight, Jaiswal returned to the bat at the fall of the third wicket and reached his double hundred of 231 balls, breaking numerous records along the way. (Read more)

Ashwin in on the field now. at tea break. Taking some catches in his signature floppy hat reports Sriram Veera from Rajkot

Well right at the stroke of Tea Bumrah picks Crawley. In the 30 minutes they had England lost already their two wickets. This is unfolding pretty quickly for them. While it might spark some controversy it is the umpire's call and the ball is just clipping the stumps on height and not on width. Irrespective of that all of this might be over bu evening for England. Joe Root will come in and have to bat with Pope it will be very interesting to be a fly in the English dressing room and listen to the conversations. 

Ben Duckett gets himself runout. While Crawley denied the call Duckett kept the ball watching after pushing it to mid-on Siraj and ran halfway down the track and then realized and ran back by the time it was too late as the fielder threw the ball and Jurel did the rest.

It has been a subdued start for England not usual for them. They always tend to come out the bowlers all guns blazing. May be they realized the wicket is good to bat and they want to take their time to get themselves in and then start going. However, the thing we need to keep in mind is the lack of confidence of England bowlers in that morning session and noon seesion has contributed for all those runs. The dust was coming off the pitch and the odd ball was spinning so they cannot not get too much into the trap of getting in and attacking later. As once the Indian spinners operate they will extract lot more than English spinners did

Crawley has played a couple of crisp shots to start the proceedings for India. Also because Kuldeep is a wrist spinner the reason behind Rohit waiting to give the ball. A few overs from the pacer might remove a bit of lacquer on ball which would be easier for him to grip than this brand-new ball with a prominent seam. Duckett on the other hand who scored a sublime 150 is not off the mark yet. He has always been positive and has helped in getting his start off to a good start. It will be interesting to see how his approach will be in this innings. 

Bumrah and Siraj have taken the new ball for India from either end. Seems like Ashwin still has not reached the ground yet or we might have seen him bowling to Duckett first up. When India where in a similar situation on Day 2 Rohit did use his seamers till Tea break without introducing the spinners which felt a bit too long. Today things might be different with a pitch a bit more crumbled. The way Kuldeep has bowled in the first innings it might be him who would be brought into attack. 

Well Rohit has called back the players. England need 556 runs to win. They have the time to do it but do their batters have it in them to do it we will find out. Talking all positive and saying this in press is one thing and doing it is a different ball game. We have to wait and see how they will go about it. Ashwin is back for India as well. They have all the resources available the pitch is doing a bit. 

A leap in the air and both arms raised a roar from Jaiswal to get his 2nd double 100 in a row. This is getting ugly for England. It doesn't matter how much positivity prevails in dressing rooms this kind of thing will break you as a team and as individuals. Superb from young Jaiswal. In the absence of big stars, the youngster has stepped up and delivered the goods. It will not at all be a bad ploy for Stokes to use some part-time bowlers here. The way batters are batting  it is impossible for England bowlers they can't get their heads right within three days. 

Sarfaraz to is near his 50. Both batters are approaching their landmarks. It feels like the England bowlers are just going through the motions here. This is the first time since McCullum and Stokes have taken over they are in this kind of situation. The question remains to be seen how will they make a comeback in Ranchi? While it feels like a flat wicket it is not. Indian spinners will be fresh and have the cushion of about infinite runs to defend in the bag all the little things which the pitch is doing added with other factors will create a dent in the confidence of England's side. 

India's lead almost nearing 500 now. Stokes has removed Anderson from the attack. Interestingly, Mark Wood did not bowl much today, unlike yesterday. We did not see much of the bumper strategy used either. It might be because he is carrying a bit of niggle. Once again Joe Root has bowled a lot of overs. It also might be one of the reasons behind his poor batting in this series. Where he has to concentrate on both skills unlike any other tours before. Stokes was seen bowling in the nets can we see a spell from him? 

Yashasvi Jaiswal breaks Rohit Sharma's record for most sixes by a batter in a Test series.

Most sixes in a Test series:

20* - Jaiswal v ENG, 2024
19 - Rohit v SA, 2019
15 - Shimron Hetmyer v BAN, 2018
15 - Ben Stokes v AUS, 2023

India openers with 500+ runs in a home Test series:

732 - Gavaskar (v WI '78)
544 - Sehwag (v PAK '05)
529 - Rohit (v SA, '19)
526 - MH Mankad (v NZ, '55)
525 - BK Kunderan (vENG, '64)
517* - YASHASVI JAISWAL(v ENG, '24) 
514 - Gavaskar (v PAK, '79)
500 - Gavaskar (v ENG, '81)

Jaiswal smashed Anderson for 21 runs. He hit three sixes in that over which were dismissive of the bowler. This is brutal from Jaiswal. England speaking about them playing attacking cricket and being the aggressive team of the lot are being schooled by Jaiswal here. The batter is indicating what the next few years of Indian batting will look like and how they will play. This is amazing hitting from the youngster. Even Sarfaraz has joined the party now. It is fair to say these young batters are showing what is attacking cricket.

Jaiswal tapped the ball to third man to get his 150. After retiring last evening from a back spasm 20 minutes early this morning he came and played where he left off. Later in the over against Anderson Jaiswal scooped the ball over fine-leg for a boundary. The Indians have shown their hand here. They are going to go after the bowling. While there is the availability of new ball England has not taken it asking the batters to use all their power. It will be interesting to see what kind of fields England will put in the session. 

We are back for the noon session. Jaiswal is one run away from 150. The team management might start thinking about the declaration now. One thing we will get to see is both batters will come all guns blazing against the English bowlers. 

It’s admirable that Bazball hasn’t had more days like the third day in Rajkot. When they go overboard with their intent, dim their game awareness, and waste a great opportunity to seize an unshakeable grip on the match. Joe Root reverse-lapped Jasprit Bumrah to slip, while Ben Stokes slog-swept to long-on and handed the initiative back to a Ashwin-less India. Instead of a handy lead, they were shot out for 319 in their first innings to trail by 126 before India extended the lead to 322 by stumps.

India spinner R Ashwin is set to join the India squad on Day for the Rajkot Test after a brief absence due to a family emergency, the BCCI has said in a statement on Sunday.

“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is pleased to announce the return of R Ashwin to the squad after a brief absence due to a family emergency,” said BCCI. (Read more)

That is lunch on Day four. No prizes for guessing whose session it was. India have added 118 runs to the overnight score and lost two wickets. Sarfaraz and Jaiswal will come all guns blazing after lunch and there is no doubt about it. This batting inning from India might be the undoing of England in this series. Credit must be given to the team management. The team looked shattered after Day 2 but seems like Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit did a good job of keeping the troops in the right spirit and it is amazing how these things work. We will join you after lunch do stay with us. 

Sarfaraz is looking to push the ball and take those quick singles. The batter has this amazing ability to just push the ball in the gaps with soft hands and steal the quick single more often than not. Once he gets himself in he tends to play his shots. He does possess the great ability to keep the scoreboard ticking and get a start in quick time. These are the kind of players who are nightmare to captains because they don't tend to let them bowl at you for too long and will play cheeky shots from time to time which will be difficult to set fields for. A bit like what Duckett does. 

The lead is almost 400 now. It will be interesting to see how much Rohit would think is enough. As per history, this is way beyond what has been done in the past in India. The wicket also seems like is playing a lot more tricks now compared to yesterday evening. It is not just the moisture the dust is coming off of the surface. With Ashwin returning by lunch India would have doubled the confidence which is already sky-high. Sarfaraz has got off the mark and is playing more or less the same way he has played in the first innings. 

Kuldeep has departed. Rehan Ahmed pitches one up which the batter tries to drive on off-side and gets an edge to slip Root who seems like has hurt his finger. Nevertheless a brilliant cameo by Kuldeep and he and Gill will probably have a conversation in the dressing room now about that run. Sarfaraz has walked into the middle as an important innings for the batter. With Patidar failing thrice if he can contribute here irrespective of Rahul's availability he will cement his place in Ranchi. 

Jaiswal has hit a couple of boundaries and got his innings underway today morning. A couple of balls spun for Joe Root and a puff of dust was coming out and seemed like the pitch was breaking now. This is a Test for England and Ben Stokes. Yes, they have won the first Test but it did come on back off an one of the greatest innings ever played in India those sorts of turnarounds happen once in a while for a reason. While in the Ashes they did make a comeback from 2-0 behind this is a different kettle of fish altogether. 

Kuldeep hit the ball to the mid-on fielder and took a couple of steps Gill did go halfway down the pitch and the striker denied and Gill did turn back and dived but was not enough. A 100 would have done him a world of good given the way things have gone for him so far. Jaiswal has walked into the middle. He would look to resume his innings and make another double hundred for a second game in a row. A word on Kuldeep's batting he has been solid with his defensive and has not shied away from taking his chances from time to time.

Shubman Gill has got himself run out in 90 and missed an opportunity to get a 100. Gill looked very agitated as he walked back. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is pleased to announce the return of R Ashwin to the squad after a brief absence due to a family emergency. Ashwin had to temporarily withdraw from the squad after Day 2 of the 3rd Test in Rajkot to attend to a family emergency.

The team management, players, media and fans have shown immense understanding and empathy, acknowledging the importance of family as a priority. The team and its supporters have stood united in support of Ashwin during this challenging period, and the management is delighted to welcome him back to the field.

The partnership has now gone into 40's this is the last thing England would have been expecting coming today morning Kuldeep to bat the way they did. We might see Stokes soon turning to his trusted off-spinner Joe Root who has had a better series with the ball than bat. Also, he does have the option of Mark Wood which he can use against Kuldeep Yadav and test his defensive technique against high-quality pace. This has been very good from India today morning continuing where they left off last evening. 

Shubman Gill has moved into the 80s here. While Jaiswal has taken all the limelight this has been another brilliant innings from Gill for the second Test in a row. Kuldeep has now batted over 30 minutes this morning. The England bowlers and captain seem like they have run out of plans. The interesting to watch out for in this game would be how England goes about their chase. The way Kuldeep and Gill have batted there seems to be absolutely nothing in the wicket still. If they try and play for a draw they may keep the series alive and if they lose that might be the series for them.

England did manage to come back and win in Hyderabad and though the margin would suggest it was not a close game in Vizag England did have their moments. This is the first time in the series they are looking completely out of it. We have not seen Stokes being with defensive fields so far in the series but here in the morning, he looks like they are in the damage-control mode. To add to their misery Jaiswal is padded up. This is getting to a stage where it is just a matter of stats padding for Indian batters. 

Kuldeep Yadav danced down the pitch and swung his bat toward the leg-side and it made a lovely sound when it made contact with the ball and flew to a six. It will give a lot of confidence to Kuldeep. He chose his option right too to hit a left-arm spinner Hartley as left-hander. Shubman Gill at the other end has been keen to take that quick single and keep the scoreboard ticking. The England fielders are relatively subdued compared to other mornings. 18 minutes into the morning not a single ball has misbehaved so far. 

It is James Anderson and Tom Hartley who have started up this morning which is much better from Stokes first thing in the morning. He has tended to use Root first up while it did give results this feels a lot better move as Hartley amongst the England spinners has been head and shoulders above. Another thing from England's perspective is to get Kuldeep as early as possible because the longer he bats the faster the moisture in the surface will get dried up making it easier for the batters to follow. 

There will be moisture in the first session which is the only hope for England to make a comeback in this game. If they won't be able to do that India will be in a position to declare in this game. 

 It doesn't look too different from yesterday. Still looks a belter. The cracks have opened up a little bit. Tinge of grass, amazing how that's still stayed with the weather we've had. Enough for the bowlers on both sides of the wicket. We may see one or two staying down. The natural variations will increase. The abrasiveness has increased, there might be more variable bounce. The ball marks are a lot more prominent.

Against two of the best fast bowlers of his era, Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins, Joe Root has been poor. Cummins has seen him off 11 times for an average of 26, Bumrah 9 times for 28.2, and it raises the question — can Root be considered a great in the true sense of the word? One of the best among his contemporaries, certainly, but greatness requires something more than that.

This isn’t just about his dismissals in the Vizag chase and in Rajkot but over and beyond that. He did throw his wicket on the third morning, opening the door for Ashwin-less India by reverse lapping Bumrah to second slip where Yashasvi Jaiswal hung on to a sharp chance. For a batsman and former captain with game awareness, it wasn’t ideal. In the chase at Vizag, he had turned almost manic, scything and swishing and fell to a slog off Ashwin. That turned the game, along with Ben Stokes’s brain fade of a run out. Now potentially, this dismissal can do the same in Rajkot. And Kuldeep Yadav gatecrashed in to take out Jonny Bairstow with a ripper to trap him lbw and England were on the wobble. (Read more)

Suryakumar Yadav has posted an emotional message for R Ashwin, after the off-spinner completed his 500 Test wickets on Day 2 of the third Test at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.

“Ash bhai yaar rula diya aapke smile ne (Your smile has made me cry),” Surya wrote on his Instagram story. (Read more)

In the last couple of decades, we have seen a few overseas batsmen play their signature slog-sweeps to great effect in India. Hansie Cronje, Steve Waugh, Kevin Pietersen and we can now add Ben Duckett, whose thunderous slog-sweeps on the second day in Rajkot made even the bowler R Ashwin think of applauding. It will be captured in potential cricket documentaries about the series and definitely ‘gif’fed by the England and Wales Cricket Board’s X handle in the years to come.

It was some sight. Duckett had to extend himself far more than Waugh or Cronje. Not just because he isn’t as tall, but his ambitions were higher. He wanted to hit Ashwin – irrespective of where he was bowling, often turning across him outside off – to the wide midwicket region as “it was a shorter boundary and breeze was flowing there”, as the left-hander would say. (Read more)

On a day where England started out as favorites, India finished in firm control of the third Test in Rajkot, in large part thanks to the batting antics of Yashasvi Jaiswal. Only playing his seventh Test for India, the swashbuckling southpaw has started out with a balanced act but soon shifted gears to take the attack to the visitors.

Scoring a sensational ton, Jaiswal smothered five sixes and as many fours in a space of six overs in the last session of the day to put the Indians in the driving seat. A truly ‘where were you when it happened’ passage of Test cricket against the Bazballers. However, despite being present at the venue, Mohammed Siraj was unable to witness the onslaught from the 22-year-old. (Read more)

England were 224/3 on the third day of the third Test, with the Test series against India literally and figuratively at a central point, when it happened. In his Bazball avatar, Joe Root has made a habit of scoring via a reverse sweep – sometimes as many as six runs off one go. On this particular occasion however, it would be the unbecoming of him as the Englishman ended up holing it straight to the Yashasvi Jaiswal at second slip. A dismissal which set in motion an early collapse of the visitors in the first innings, handing India a sizeable first-innings lead. (Read more)

It’s admirable that Bazball hasn’t had more days like the third day in Rajkot. When they go overboard with their intent, dim their game awareness, and waste a great opportunity to seize an unshakeable grip on the match. Joe Root reverse-lapped Jasprit Bumrah to slip, while Ben Stokes slog-swept to long-on and handed the initiative back to a Ashwin-less India. Instead of a handy lead, they were shot out for 319 in their first innings to trail by 126 before India extended the lead to 322 by stumps.

During the chase in Vizag, too, England had overcooked, with Root falling for an unadulterated slog and Ollie Pope more than keen to listen to his attacking urges – but the English camp can offer understandable rationale for it. The ball was turning on a bruised pitch, and they might have felt all-out attack was the way to go. Here, though, if they had played a session at their regular pace – which is already frenetic enough – they could have had India pulling out their hair without Ashwin to turn to. (Read more)

There are two Yashasvi Jaiswals cohabiting harmoniously in the young Indian opener. Until that moment in the 27th over of the innings when he decided he had had enough of poking around and exploded against James Anderson to turn the tide in India’s favour, Jaiswal – the classical Test batsman – was on show. Of all the youngsters in the Indian team, he has the most compact defensive routine and has the air of a batsman who has faced thousands of balls in his formative years. The muscle memory of a dour veteran batsman and the confidence of been-there-done-that-a-million-times come across in the way everything aligns in his bat flow – from the head to the feet. (Read more)