Premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was pulled out of the third Test between India and England on account of a personal emergency, which threw the match into a surprising twist. India clawed their way back into the game despite his absence, taking the crucial wicket of Ben Duckett (135) and reducing England to 245/7 at lunch.
England Start Strong
With Duckett and Joe Root (16*) at the crease, England resumed on 207/2 and proceeded with their aggressive strategy. Riding high on his century, Duckett had an air of imperiousness, effortlessly destroying boundaries. Before Root dismissed Mohammed Shami (12-2-59-1) to the midwicket fielder, he and the other batsman embarked on a rapid 38-run stand.
Siraj Steps Up
It was up to the Pacers to make some progress with Ashwin out of the picture. In response, Mohammed Siraj (12-2-62-2) bowled accurately and with fury. He gave a scorching inswinger to Jonny Bairstow (age 21) to trap him squarely in front, then used a fantastic delivery to dismiss Duckett. With 224/4 in hand, England was in serious trouble after the left-hander, going for a massive shot, gained an inside edge onto his stumps.
Ben Stokes (29*) and England captain Ollie Pope (39) steadied the ship with a tight partnership of 52 runs. They were cautious in their approach against the well-controlled Indian spinners, Axar Patel (7-0-25-0) and Jadeja (11-0-36-0). But just as they were about to form a crucial alliance, Siraj attacked once again. He forced Pope to play a slower drive, which led to an easy catch at mid-off.
England were still 200 runs behind India’s total of 445 runs after the first innings when their score was 245/7 at lunch. In the afternoon session, an exciting bat-ball contest is being seen on the wicket between Stokes and Sam Curran (10*).
- Ashwin’s Absence: The lack of India’s ace spinner is a significant blow, as he would have been a major threat on this turning track.
- Siraj’s Rise: The pacer has been impressive throughout the series and continues to showcase his ability to take crucial wickets.
- Duckett’s Dismissal: His wicket was a big setback for England, as he looked set for a big score.
- Stokes and Curran’s Partnership: This duo needs to play cautiously and build a solid foundation for England to recover.
The direction of the Test could be significantly decided by the afternoon session. If India manages to take quick wickets, they will be in a good position to take advantage of the initiative. But if Stokes and Curran can weather the storm and form a strong combination then England can get back into the game.
- The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium has a dynamic, animated audience which contributes to the exciting atmosphere. Jasprit Bumrah (8-0-32-0) despite being economical, will try to make an impact in the second session but has not got any wickets so far. The pitch looks to be turning and the spinners should be involved more as the day progresses.
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