After the conclusion of the Day 2 game, England players were discussing how far ahead they were in the game, almost as if it had already concluded. However, within the span of a day, the game had completely flipped, and now India finds themselves on the brink of closing out the test match with a series win.
“3-2 sounds nice,” remarked Ben Stokes after the humiliating defeat in Rajkot. Despite his confidence and hope for a terrific comeback in the series, it doesn’t seem likely now, with India needing only 154 runs with 10 wickets in hand.
There’s a contradiction inherent in Bazball. While it’s purported to be all about entertainment, one only needs to look at their batting performance on day 3. When England faced extreme trouble, they managed only 11 runs in 11 overs. Even worse, they lost 7 wickets for 35 runs after being 110/3, ultimately getting bowled out for 145.
The day didn’t start well for England, as Kuldeep Yadav faced more than 100 balls to support Dhruv Jurel. England seemed too relaxed about their position in the game, mistakenly thinking they were well ahead. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t operate that way.
The Bad Gets Worse for England as Dhruv Jurel Shines with Bat
Jurel single-handedly kept India in the game with a brilliant 90-run knock. At one point, it appeared England would have a lead of over 120 runs, but he managed to reduce it to 46 runs.
When England came out to bat, they seemed unsettled in their approach. Only Zak Crawley managed to score well, but he was undone by a brilliant delivery from Kuldeep Yadav.
Joe Root continued playing without intent, which undoubtedly contributed to his dismissal. Upon his wicket falling, England fans and experts began discussing how DRS favored India. However, the reality was that Root was struggling, creating a chance for a wicket.
Jonny Bairstow attempted a few fancy shots but fell victim to a soft dismissal. When England were 110/3, a lead of over 250 seemed achievable, but they faltered. Suddenly, the Bazball philosophy vanished, and the entire English batting order seemed focused on survival. Yet, survival against Kuldeep, Jadeja, and Ashwin proved futile.
Ashwin’s magnificent 5-wicket haul led to England being bundled out for 145. What a turnaround! From being ahead in the game to nearly losing it, only England could pull off such a feat. India stands at 40 without loss, and they’ll need to bat sensibly in the morning session to secure victory.
