Rajkot, India – February 17, 2024
In a thrilling turn of events on day three of the Third Test between India and England in Rajkot, the visitors suffered a dramatic collapse, giving way to India’s dominant position spearheaded by a remarkable century from Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Match Summary
After a solid fightback on the second evening, England seemed poised for a strong reply to India’s first innings total of 445, resuming at 207-2. However, their hopes were dashed as they lost their last eight wickets for just 95 runs, eventually getting bowled out for 319. The collapse was triggered by Joe Root’s dismissal, followed by Jonny Bairstow’s early departure and Ben Duckett’s tame exit after a promising start.
Despite Captain Ben Stokes’ resilient 41, England faltered, conceding a first-innings deficit of 126 runs. India’s bowlers, led by Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj, showcased exemplary skills to capitalize on England’s woes, limiting them to a challenging position.
Jaiswal further cemented India’s dominance with a splendid century, his second consecutive one in the series, forming a formidable partnership with Shubman Gill. However, Jaiswal’s innings was interrupted by a back problem, but not before he had inflicted significant damage on the English bowlers.
By the end of the day’s play, India had reached 196-2, establishing a commanding lead of 322 runs and positioning themselves for a potential series-clinching victory.
England Missed Opportunity
The collapse marked a missed opportunity for England, who had a promising platform to mount a substantial challenge to India’s dominance. Questions arose regarding the decision not to replace Ravichandran Ashwin in the India XI, with England opting to proceed with the match under the existing playing conditions.
Root’s dismissal, characterized by an ill-judged reverse scoop, exemplified England’s struggles, reflecting a broader trend of poor shot selection among the team. The defeat mirrored England’s previous shortcomings, echoing their performance in previous matches.
onditions.
Despite facing adversity, India showcased resilience and determination, bouncing back strongly to seize control of the match. Jaiswal exceptional century and India’s collective effort with both bat and ball underscored their superiority on the field.