Ranchi: In a dramatic turn of events in Ranchi, Dhruv Jurel and India’s spin trio orchestrated a remarkable comeback on the third day of the Test match against England. With a challenging target of 192 set by England, India now needs only 152 more runs to clinch the Test and secure the series with all ten wickets intact.
The see-saw battle that unfolded at Ranchi witnessed an outstanding display of resilience by Dhruv Jurel, who, along with Kuldeep Yadav, managed to frustrate the English bowlers. The duo’s 76-run partnership for the eighth wicket proved crucial in reducing the first-innings deficit. Jurel, eventually falling just short of a well-deserved century, played aggressively and cleared the ropes consistently.
England, having secured only a slender first-innings lead of 46, faced further setbacks as R Ashwin made significant contributions with the ball. Dismissing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in quick succession, Ashwin set the stage for India to take control. The crucial wicket of Joe Root further solidified India’s position.
The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja continued to wreak havoc, sending Zak Crawley and Ben Stokes back to the pavilion before the Tea break. Despite England’s lower order failing to provide a significant contribution, Ashwin completed a five-wicket haul as England was bowled out for just 145.
As the day concluded, India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, provided a solid start to the tricky chase. Rohit, in particular, played positively, securing crucial boundaries. With India requiring 152 more runs for victory, England faces an uphill battle and must hope for a batting collapse from the hosts to stay alive in the series.
Brief scores: India: 307 (Dhruv Jurel 90; Shoaib Bashir 5/119) & 40/0 (Rohit Sharma 24*), England: 353 & 145 (Zak Crawley 60; R Ashwin 5/51)