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In a captivating turn of events during the first Test between India and England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Jasprit Bumrah showcased his mastery of reverse swing, while Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja contributed crucial wickets. At tea on day three, England found themselves at 172/5, trailing India by 18 runs.
The morning session had seen England’s aggressive play push India on the back foot, but the post-lunch period marked a significant turnaround. Bumrah’s artistry with the ball was on full display, utilizing reverse swing to dismiss Ben Duckett with a well-executed in-ducker. The momentum shifted, and Bumrah continued to trouble the English batsmen, almost dismissing Ollie Pope with a cleverly bowled slower ball.
Bumrah’s lethal inswinger proved pivotal as he trapped Joe Root lbw, opening up further opportunities for India. Meanwhile, Pope and Jonny Bairstow managed to counter Bumrah effectively, but a deceptive delivery from Jadeja saw Bairstow’s off-stump sent on a cartwheel ride, leaving the crowd in awe.
Pope, displaying resilience, notched up his first Test fifty in India, reaching 67 not out off 54 balls. However, Ashwin, after being momentarily unsettled, returned to form by removing the off-stump of captain Ben Stokes. India’s disciplined bowling ensured England failed to score a boundary in the last 65 balls of the session, strengthening their grip on the match.
As the tea session unfolded, India’s fightback became the highlight, and the Test match promised more excitement with England trailing by a slender 18 runs.
Brief Scores: England 246 and 172/5 in 42 overs (Ollie Pope 67 not out; Ben Duckett 47; Jasprit Bumrah 2-21, Ravichandran Ashwin 2-63) trail India 436 in 121 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 87, KL Rahul 86; Joe Root 4-79, Rehan Ahmed 2-105) by 18 runs.
–IANS
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