Yashasvi Jaiswal’s dream season just got better as he single-handedly took the initiative from England with a blistering century, putting India in complete control at the end of the third day of play in the third Test. Jaiswal’s (104 retired hurt off 133 balls) second ton of the series was perfectly complemented by Shubman Gill (65 batting, 120 balls), who controlled his natural aggression as India finished the day at 196 for 2 in 51 available overs. The left-handed opener, who will be the torchbearer of Indian batting for the next decade, scored his third Test century in only seven appearances before being forced to retire due to back spasms.
The Jaiswal-Gill pair added 155 runs in quick succession, with the former giving the English team a run for its money with nine fours and five sixes, the best of which was an imperious pull from Jimmy Anderson.
By stumps, the overall lead had risen to 322 after Indian bowlers made an outstanding comeback, taking the last five England wickets for only 29 runs, with the visitors bowled out for 319.
Mohammed Siraj (4/84 in 21.1 overs) was brilliant with his yorkers to tail-enders, and Kuldeep Yadav (2/77 in 18 overs) made up for Ravichandran Ashwin’s unfortunate withdrawal with two quick wickets in the morning session.
However, Joe Root’s indiscreet reverse ramp off Jasprit Bumrah, which Jaiswal pouched with less than a second’s reaction time, turned the tide.
“That shot was not on, and it became a turning point,” Siraj said during the post-match press conference.
Rohit Sharma’s captaincy was spot-on, and the manner in which he tweaked Jasprit Bumrah’s field position at long-on to dismiss Ben Stokes off Ravindra Jadeja (2/51) spoke volumes about his knowledge.
On Sunday, India would hope to take a lead of at least 425, if not 450, and have at least 125 overs to dismiss England. With Ashwin out, India would require an extra overs cushion on a batting-friendly deck.
Jaiswal Jazz
Jaiswal’s onslaught continued despite England’s frenetic changes in bowling and fielding plans, none of which were effective enough to stop the Indian opener.
After spotting a vacant off-side field, Jaiswal hit two reverse sweeps off Rehan Ahmed for fours.
However, his charge was cut short when England brought back Mark Wood for another short-ball ploy in a game with a crowded leg side field.
Unfazed by England’s deployments, Jaiswal dealt in singles into his 90s and completed his third century of a fledgling career with a four off Wood.
However, the left-handed opener was forced to leave the game near the end due to back spasms.
Jaiswal not only dashed England’s hopes, but also strengthened India’s grip on the contest, having lost Rohit Sharma (19) cheaply in the second session.
At the other end, Gill bounced back from his first-innings duck with a fifth half-century, countering England’s strategy of a packed on-side field with up to six fielders and Wood bowling into his body.
Given the amount of time remaining in the game and the relatively benign surface in Rajkot, India’s task was to preserve wickets and extend their lead.
Furthermore, Rohit’s early dismissal and their overall lead not being large enough would have provided some concerns, but all of that was banished by the pair of Jaiswal and Gill with their unbeaten 155-run stand for the second wicket.
Kuldeep’s Ripper
Kuldeep, who was hammered by Ben Duckett on the second day, regained his form, bowling brilliantly through the first session of the day to keep England at bay, while also accounting for Jonny Bairstow with an unplayable delivery.
Bairstow moved deep into the crease but was pinned in front of the wickets by a sharp delivery from outside the off.
Bumrah then dismissed Root (18) for the ninth time in 21 innings, as the former captain’s shocking dismissal – a reverse ramp to second slip – highlighted the bizarre nature of the ultra aggressive approach.
After struggling to score freely in the first session, England decided to go all-out after lunch, but the strategy failed miserably.
Jadeja had Stokes (41) caught by Bumrah, who was placed slightly straighter at long-on, forcing the batter to adjust his stroke. Jadeja also stumped Tom Hartley for his second wicket.
For Ben Foakes, Siraj’s delivery slowed slightly off the surface, allowing Rohit to grab it easily at mid-on.
The Indian pacer wasted no time in cleaning up tailenders Ahmed and Anderson to finish with a four-for, as England were bowled out for 319 from 290/5 at lunch.