18 February,2024 07:45 AM IST | Rajkot | Santosh Suri
India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates his century on Day Three of the third Test against England in Rajkot on Saturday. Pic/PTI
England held all the aces going into the third day of the third Test. Their batting looked solid on Friday with Ben Duckett in fluent form, the pitch was at its best and India's strike bowler Ravichandran Ashwin was out of action as he had to rush back to Chennai to be with his ailing mother. Under the circumstances, things did not look rosy for the home team. But one moment of indiscretion by Joe Root changed the complexion of the game. England's most experienced batter tried to scoop a Jasprit Bumrah delivery over the slips only to be caught in the cordon. His departure opened the floodgates and England lost wickets in a heap. From a comfortable 207-2 in 35 overs overnight, they were all out for 319, conceding a handy 126-run lead to the opponents.
India consolidated their position further with promising young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal striking his third Test century in just his seventh game, before retiring on 104 due to back spasms. With Shubman Gill, he posted a solid 155-run partnership for the second wicket to deny England any chance of a comeback.
At the close on Day Three, India were 196 for two, with Gill unbeaten on 65 and Kuldeep Yadav as nightwatchman for the second time in the match, on three. The home team have an overall lead of 322, and with a lot of batting to come, they hold all the aces even in the absence of Ashwin.
In recent times, Root has been severely criticised in the English media for dumping his traditional batting method and adopting the much-touted Bazball, which has affected his consistency. He has played 139 Test matches and has over 11,000 runs, thus has no need to change his batting style. He is the one on whom the team rely to get them a big total. His cheap dismissal for the fifth straight innings in the current series had an adverse effect on the fortunes of the team as he gave a window of opportunity to the Indian side. But credit goes to the home bowlers, who took full advantage of that and raised their hands in the absence of their star off-spinner.
Also Read: Ton-up Ben Duckett puts England in control, propelling visitors to 207 for two
For once, Kuldeep Yadav bowled the way one would expect him to, with the type of talent he possesses. After the departure of Root, he first removed Jonny Bairstow LBW with a peach of a delivery and then had Duckett (153) caught off a loose shot. From thereon, England were caught in a dilemma of traditional batting versus Bazball and kept losing wickets as Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj cleaned up the remaining six wickets. Siraj, who looked ordinary on Friday, was very impressive with a four-wicket haul, while Kuldeep and Jadeja had two apiece. Of course, Ashwin was not there after claiming a wicket on Friday. But, it was Bumrah's lone strike early in the morning when he foxed Root to play that outrageous shot which started the England slide. In India's second innings, skipper Rohit Sharma did not last long and fell to Root. But Jaiswal produced his second century of the series after having made 209 in the previous game at Vizag. With 435 from six innings, he is the highest run-getter in the series from either side and is not finished yet as he can come out to bat today if he recovers from the back spasm.
Rajat Patidar, who had lost his wicket on five, playing a loose shot in the first essay, was dismissed in a similar manner for the same score in the second and as he walked back to the pavilion, disappointment was writ large on his face.
India still have a lot of batting to come and with England seemingly determined to fight it out, it remains to be seen if the game will enter the fifth day on Monday or finish on Sunday itself.
Brief scores
India 445 & 196-2 (Y Jaiswal 104 retd hurt, S Gill 65') v England 319 (B Duckett 153, B Stokes 41, O Pope 39; M Siraj 4-84, R Jadeja 2-51, K Yadav 2-77)
