In a display of resilience, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav showcased their bowling prowess in the absence of Ravichandran Ashwin, propelling India to a vital 126-run first innings lead which extended to 170 by tea on the third day of the third Test against England.
England’s promising innings faltered, dwindling from a steady 290 for 5 to an all-out total of 319 in 71.1 overs. Mohammed Siraj emerged as a standout performer with figures of 4 for 84, while Kuldeep’s early strikes set the tone for India’s dominance.
Contributions from senior players Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja further solidified India’s position, ensuring that the team didn’t falter despite Ashwin’s absence due to a family emergency.
Although India began their second innings cautiously, skipper Rohit Sharma’s departure for 19 added pressure on the inexperienced middle-order batsmen.
Amidst this, Yashasvi Jaiswal played a crucial role, surviving a DRS appeal to reach 19 not out by the end of the second session, with Shubman Gill on 5 not out at the other end.
The pitch at the Niranjan Shah Stadium maintained its character from the previous days, offering occasional challenges to the batsmen with low bounce and slow turn.
England’s aggressive approach led to their downfall during the lower-order collapse, with skipper Ben Stokes falling prey to Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling for 41, followed by Ben Foakes’ dismissal by Mohammed Siraj.
In the morning session, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav’s probing spells tilted the momentum in India’s favor, alleviating the absence of Ashwin.
India’s relentless pressure paid off as Siraj swiftly cleaned up the remaining tailenders, dismissing Rehan Ahmed and James Anderson to assert India’s control over the Test match.
Overall, India’s disciplined bowling and Jaiswal’s gritty half-century have put them in a commanding position heading into the remainder of the Test match.
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