India makes England toil in the field as Captain Rohit Sharma, local boy Ravindra Jadeja, and debutant Sarfaraz Khan get amongst the runs on Day one the third Test at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.
With the five-match Series evenly poised at 1-1, the two sides arrived in Rajkot to see who could get their noses in front in this thrilling Series?
Jasprit Bumrah stole the show in Visakhapatnam as the hosts won the second Test by 106 runs. Could England bounce back, or would India Take control of yet another home Series?
England made just one change, with Mark Wood back in the side in place of Shoaib Bashir. India on the other hand made four changes, with Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, and Mohammed Siraj coming in for Shreyas Iyer, Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, and KS Bharat.
It was the hosts who won toss and elected to bat first.
The openers got India of to a solid start in the first three overs.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Mark Wood made the breakthrough by getting the dangerous Yashasvi Jaiswal at 22-1.
Embed from Getty ImagesShubman Gill failed to kick on from his magnificent hundred in Vizag, as he fell to Wood at 24-2.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd Rajat Patidar made things worse for the host as he was out to a soft dismissal off Tom Hartley at at 33-3.
Embed from Getty ImagesEngland were off to a dream start, but things were about to change as india’s star All-Rounder joined his Captain in the middle.
And when Joe Root put down the Indian Captain on 27at 47-3, this was going to be the start of a long day in the field for England.
Embed from Getty ImagesJadeja got his innings going with some lovely drives.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile the Captain continued to shine at the other end.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd he reached his fifty in 71 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Jadeja began to get on to of the England bowlers.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Left-Handed All-Rounder and his Captain took India to Lunch at 93-3, with the match evenly poised.
India’s Captain and his premier All-rounder began to dominate after lunch
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd Jadeja pulled out his sword, as he reached 50 in 97 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesIndia reached Tea at 185-3, and things were looking ominous for Ben Stokes as his side were looking weary in the field, and needed a breakthrough to get themselves back in the match.
But the Indian Captain made them wait, as he brought up his 11th Test Hundred.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd he started to get more flamboyant after that.
Embed from Getty ImagesJadeja got a fright when he top-edged a half-hearted pull shot of Wood that flew over fine leg for six.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile Sharma cashed in on some loose bowling from Rehan Ahmed.
ty ImagesAnd he bought up his 200 partnership with a late cut of Rehan.
Embed from Getty ImagesWood finally ended the Indian Captains innings of 131 at 237-4.
Embed from Getty ImagesSarfaraz began to show his talent.
Embed from Getty ImagesHis counter-attacking innings gave a headache to Stokes and his bowlers, as they were unsure of how to get him out?
Embed from Getty ImagesThe debutant raced to his maiden fifty in 48 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut as Jadeja was looking for a single to get to 100, the debutant was ran out for 62 by Wood, at 314-5.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut the local boy finally reached his fourth Test Hundred in 198 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesIndia ended the opening day’s play 326-5, with Jadeja and Night-Watchman Kuldeep Yadav at the crease .
So at the end of the day’s play, it looks like an even contest, particularly with England getting the wicket of Sarfaraz, who was looking dangerous.
India, however, will feel that they are in the driving seat, with Jadeja unbeaten on 110, and with the likes of Jurel and Ravichandran Ashwin to come, they will be looking to push towards 400 and beyond.
On the other hand, England will be hoping to restrict them to below that score.
What can we expect on Day Three?
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