IND vs ENG, 3rd Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal hundred torments England after Bazball collapses on Day 3
Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal hit another brilliant hundred to pile on more misery on hapless England after Bazball collapsed on Day 3 to put India on top in the Rajkot Test.
India were 196 for 2 at stumps on Day 3, with their second-innings lead reading 322 with eight wickets still in hand, further solidifying their dominance in the match.
When India came out to bat in their second innings, Joe Root dismissed Rohit for 19, but Jaiswal ripped into England’s attack, extending India’s lead. Jaiswal, who was suffering from a back spasm, retired hurt after hitting five sixes and nine fours in a 104-run innings. Shubman Gill was on 65 with nightwatchman Kuldeep on three at the other end.
Jaiswal brought up his scintillating hundred in style with a boundary on the final delivery of the 39th over as the opener got to three-figure marks in just 122 balls. While the young opener took 48 balls to hit his first boundary, his innings eventually blossomed with nine fours and five sixes.
Displaying his attacking prowess, the Uttar Pradesh-born opener dismantled James Anderson in the 27th over, dispatching consecutive boundaries before finishing the over with a powerful pull shot for six. The young opener continued his assault in the next over, bowled by spinner Tom Hartley, reaching his fifty in just 80 balls with a six over long-on. Jaiswal made it two in two with a six on the next delivery. His second fifty came even quicker, off just 42 balls.
After reaching his third Test hundred with a boundary, Jaiswal celebrated exuberantly, leaping in the air and blowing kisses towards the dressing room, where captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid acknowledged his masterful innings with standing ovations.
BAZBALL COLLAPSES
Earlier, Mohammed Siraj claimed four wickets, supported by Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, who each took two, as England were bowled out for 319 runs in 71.1 overs. Siraj, Kuldeep, Jadeja and Bumrah stepped in Ashwin’s absence as England’s aggressive batting approach, Bazball, collapsed on Day 3, highlighting the risks inherent in their enterprising style.
Joe Root, who has not been in great form this series, failed once again when he tried to play a reverse-lap off Jasprit Bumrah but ended up offering Jaiswal a difficult catch in second slip. India tasted success soon again when Kuldeep Yadav trapped Jonny Bairstow lbw for a duck with a sharply spun delivery.
Ben Duckett’s 88-run hundred on Friday set the tone for England’s response, and the opener received a reprieve just before reaching 150 when Rohit dropped a difficult catch in the slips. Kuldeep (2-77) bowled an ordinary delivery to end Duckett’s scintillating 153, which included two sixes and 23 fours, as the opener slapped a half-tracker to Gill at cover.
England suffered a mini-collapse from an assured 290 for 5 to get all out for 319 in 71.1 overs with Siraj ending with figures of 4 for 84 while Kuldeep’s twin strike at the start of the day set the tone. Captain Ben Stokes (41) attempted to take on Ravindra Jadeja (2/51) after lunch but mistimed his shot, resulting in Jasprit Bumrah taking a superb catch at deep midwicket, a testament to Rohit Sharma’s astute field placement, positioning the long-on fielder strategically. On the very next delivery, Ben Foakes (13) fell victim to a delivery that didn’t come on to the bat as expected, leading to Mohammed Siraj claiming his second wicket, comfortably caught by Rohit Sharma at mid-on.
During the morning session, Jasprit Bumrah (1/54) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/77) wrested control back in India’s favor with their incisive bowling. In the absence of Ashwin, Kuldeep’s ability to find the right length must have provided a sense of relief for the Indian captain. India’s relentless pressure on England yielded further success when Tom Hartley (9) failed to connect with a delivery from Jadeja, resulting in Dhruv Jurel completing his first stumping in Test cricket. With England teetering on the edge, Mohammed Siraj wasted no time in dismissing Rehan Ahmed (6) with a pinpoint yorker, followed by the removal of James Anderson (1), firmly placing India in control of the Test match.