In reply to India’s first innings total of 445, England raced to 207/2 in 35 overs at the close of play on Day 2 of the third Test at Rajkot.
Opener Ben Duckett was the stand-out performer for the visitors, slamming 133* off just 118 balls with 21 boundaries and two sixes.
However, the Indian team pulled things back in the morning session of the third day’s play despite missing R Ashwin’s services. After the second day’s play, the senior off-spinner withdrew from the Rajkot Test due to a family emergency.
In Ashwin’s absence, all the other bowlers stepped up to the plate for India. Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav (2/77) delivered a stunning spell in the first session, including the prized scalp of Duckett (153), as the hosts reduce England to 290/5 at lunch on Day 3.
In the post-lunch session, Mohammed Siraj (4/84) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/51) ran through the English batting line-up to bundle out the tourists for 319, taking a substantial lead of 126 runs.
Jasprit Bumrah also took the important wicket of Joe Root while Ashwin had dismissed Zak Crawley in the last session on Day 2.
For their inspirational bowling performance on a flat pitch, the Indian bowlers received rich praise from the cricket fraternity on social media platform X.
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