Team India made history by being the first to declare against England under skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum’s Bazball era. Rohit Sharma-led India recorded their biggest-ever margin of victory in the third Test of the five-match series against England.
The hosts declared their second innings at 430/4 during the second session, establishing a target of 557 runs for the visitors. Yashasvi Jaiswal showcased his prowess in the second innings, hammering 214 runs off just 236 balls with the help of 14 boundaries and 12 sixes.
Shubman Gill amassed 91 runs, while debutant Sarfaraz Khan remained unbeaten with 68 runs off 72 balls. However, England’s bowling attack struggled to make an impact, with Joe Root, Rehan Ahmed, and Tom Hartley only managing to take one wicket each.
Rohit Sharma-led India Make History During Third Test In Rajkot
The Indian cricket team made history by becoming the first side to declare an innings against England in the ‘Bazball era’. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma declared their second innings at a total of 430/4 on the fourth day.
The 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 a team has declared against England in the Stokes-McCullum era.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/XMgmnBh07S
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) February 18, 2024
During the run chase, England’s batting lineup collapsed dramatically, being dismissed for 122 runs in the final innings. Ravindra Jadeja claimed a five-wicket haul in the second innings, supported by Kuldeep Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Earlier, Indian bowlers dismissed England for 319 runs in the first innings, despite the absence of Ravichandran Ashwin, who left due to a family emergency. Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj led the Indian bowling attack, taking four wickets for 84 runs.
The home team secured a significant lead of 126 runs after the completion of the first innings. Capitalizing on this advantage, the hosts posted a mammoth total on the board. However, the English team failed to stage a comeback in the game, both with bat and ball.
These Guys Are Learning From The Experience – Rohit Sharma
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma expressed satisfaction in winning a Test match with a youthful squad. Rohit highlighted the presence of two debutants in the playing XI during the third Test match.
“Obviously it’s a very good feeling to win a game like that and especially with such a young team as well. (We had) two debutants (Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel) and not a lot of Test matches amongst the playing eleven as well,” Rohit said.
“A lot of these guys are learning from the experience that they’re having in the middle. We got to learn a lot about how we played in Hyderabad and then in Vizag when we won,” he added.
India picked two debutants, Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel, who played pivotal roles in the team’s victory in the recent Test match. Sarfaraz became the fourth Indian to achieve two half-centuries on debut, while Jurel contributed 46 runs in the first innings.
The Indian team aim to extend its lead when they face England in the fourth Test match at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, starting on February 23.
