India have tightened their grip on the Rajkot Test against England. They finished day 3 on 196/2, leading by 322 runs. Shubman Gill is unbeaten on 68 alongside the nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav who was unbeaten on three.
Yashasvi Jaiswal scored an unbeaten ton and wrestled the initiative back in India’s favour. However, he was retired hurt and had to leave the field due to back spasms as the pictures suggested. The hosts will look to have another dominating day on Sunday looking to set up a tough run-up for the visitors on the final day.
Day 3 started with England losing the early wicket of Joe Root to Jasprit Bumrah who dismissed him for the ninth time in Test matches. However, it was Mohammed Siraj who was the highlight with the ball for India. Making a comeback he took four wickets for 84 runs. Back-to-back wickets of Ben Stokes (41) and Ben Foakes (13) brought India back into the game. He also dismissed Rehan Ahmed and James Anderson to bowl out England for 319.
India then started on a positive note and Jaiswal’s unbeaten ton and his unbeaten 155-run stand with Gill before the southpaw had to leave the field, well and truly helped India wrestle the initiative. The unbeaten knocks of Gill and Jaiswal ensured that it would be India who dictate the game in the remaining two days.
Everything clicked for India in the manner that they played on day 3. The bowlers did not let the captain feel the absence of veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who opted out of the remaining Rajkot Test due to personal reasons. Kuldeep who was taken for plenty by Ben Duckett on day 2 eventually dismissed the southpaw. Siraj did the clean-up job in the backend of the England innings and helped India take a substantial lead.
England, in the manner that they batted, left a lot to be desired. However, the dismissals were more about the good bowling of the Indian bowlers who outfoxed the England batters to get them out. Jaiswal’s counterattacking knock took them by surprise and forced them to divert off their plans.
Ben Duckett lauded the Indian team for their proactive display on the field on day 2 which very much asserted that they were looking to make a positive response on day 3 after England ran away with the game on day two.
“Got to give credit to the way they played this evening, gave us nothing this morning, we tried to be attacking, didn’t pay off. A lot more theory behind [my approach]. People might think [my range of sweeps] are reckless, but if they want to have people round the bat, I’ll try to get rid of them,” said Duckett after the third day’s play.
IND vs ENG Day 4 Weather Report and Pitch Report of Rajkot Test, 2024
Speaking about what to expect from the Rajkot track on day four, the pitch looked the best for batting on day two and day three. Pitches wear out and assist spin from the third day onwards in Indian conditions. However, the Rajkot pitch has been the best one for batting so far and it should hold up very well at least for the first two sessions on day four. If India manages to play out the first hour when the pitch will be at its freshest, the Indian batters can take advantage of the pitch flattening out in the remaining day.
Talking about the weather conditions for the IND vs ENG Rajkot Test, day 4, the temperature will be around 35 degrees during the day on Sunday with good sunshine and proper conditions for cricket. There is no threat of rain for the remaining two days of the Test match as well.
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