Rajkot: In a gripping display of skill and resilience, India managed to put up a formidable total of 445 runs on the board in their first innings on the second day of the third Test against England. Despite facing early setbacks, notable contributions from Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and debutant Sarfaraz Khan propelled the home team to a commanding position at the end of their innings.
Rohit Sharma, showcasing his class and form, played a pivotal role in India’s innings with an impressive 131, while Ravindra Jadeja complemented him beautifully with a well-earned century, scoring 112 runs. Debutant Sarfaraz Khan made a promising start to his Test career, contributing a valuable 62 off 66 balls.
The first international outing for wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel was nothing short of impressive, as he displayed his batting prowess with a neat 46 off 104 balls. The seasoned campaigner Ravichandran Ashwin also played a crucial role, chipping in with 37 runs and forming a resilient 77-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Jurel.
India began the second day on their overnight score of 326/5, with Jadeja and night-watchman Kuldeep Yadav at the crease. However, both Jadeja and Kuldeep fell early on, leaving India at 331/7. Ashwin and Jurel then steadied the innings, guiding India to a commendable total.
England’s Mark Wood made a successful return to the squad, finishing with figures of 4/114 in 27.5 overs. His fiery spell posed challenges for the Indian batsmen, but they managed to weather the storm and put up a substantial score.
In an unexpected turn of events, India received a five-run penalty as Ravichandran Ashwin inadvertently ran over the protected area of the pitch on the second day of the Test. As a result, the visitors will begin their first innings with five runs on the board and no wickets lost.
The stage is now set for England to respond, and the upcoming sessions promise an intriguing battle between bat and ball in the ongoing IND vs ENG 3rd Test.