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In the second day’s play of the third Test against England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, India maintained a steady position, reaching 388/7 at lunch. The morning session saw the departure of overnight batters Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, but the resilient partnership between Ravichandran Ashwin and debutant wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel steered India to a commendable total.
Adding only 62 runs in the first session, India faced a slow-paced morning. However, the unbroken partnership between Ashwin and Jurel proved to be the highlight, contributing 57 runs to the team’s total. At lunch, Jurel remained unbeaten at 31 off 71 balls, while Ashwin held his ground with an unbeaten 25 off 64 deliveries.
Resuming from 331/7, England’s James Anderson struck early in the session, dismissing nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav with a faint edge caught by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes. Shortly after, Jadeja fell for 112, chipping a tame drive straight back to part-time off-spinner Joe Root.
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Facing Mark Wood’s formidable deliveries, Ashwin managed to get off the mark with a well-executed punch through cover for four. Jurel displayed his skills by ramping six-over slips, showcasing a combination of resilience and aggression.
Despite the slow run rate, Ashwin’s elegant drives and cuts for boundaries and Jurel’s solid gameplay have positioned India well. The duo is building a partnership that has set the stage for India to aim for a realistic target of 400+.
A momentary setback occurred when Ashwin ran into the danger area while facing Rehan Ahmed in the 102nd over. This led to on-field umpire Joel Wilson imposing a five-run penalty on India. Consequently, England will begin their first innings from 5/0.
As the game progresses, India’s focus remains on building substantial partnerships, with the target of a formidable total in sight.
–IANS
