In a remarkable turn of events, India showcased resilience with determined lower-order batting and exceptional spin bowling to shift the momentum in their favor. Starting the day trailing by 134 runs with only three wickets remaining in the first innings, India ended with a commendable 40-0, setting themselves a target of 192 to secure an unassailable 3-1 series lead.
The standout performance came from , whose gritty knock of 90 was instrumental in India’s resurgence. Despite being dropped on 59 by Ollie Robinson, Jurel’s partnership with Kuldeep Yadav (76 runs) and later with Akash Deep (40 runs) propelled India to a total of 307. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir’s impressive bowling figures of 5-119 showcased England’s fight, with his performance marking him as the second youngest English bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
With a slender lead of 46 runs, England faced a daunting task against India’s formidable spin attack. Zak Crawley’s fluent 60 and Jonny Bairstow’s defiant 30 were crucial contributions, but they were unable to withstand the onslaught from Ravichandran Ashwin (5-51) and Kuldeep Yadav (4-22). England’s innings folded for 145, leaving India with a target of 192 for victory.
In a brief spell before stumps, India’s openers capitalized on the opportunity, scoring at a brisk pace to reach 40-0. Captain Rohit Sharma (24*) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (16*) provided a solid foundation, putting India in a commanding position going into the final day of the Test match.
With the series hanging in the balance, India’s spirited fightback has set the stage for an enthralling conclusion in Ranchi. While England faces an uphill task to salvage the series, In-dia will aim to capitalize on their momentum and secure a historic series victory.
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