India continued their dominance over England on the second day of the third Test in Rajkot, thanks to a brilliant all-round performance by Ravindra Jadeja. The left-handed batsman scored his second Test century on his home ground and then picked up two crucial wickets with his spin bowling. India ended the day at 440-8, leading England by 114 runs.
Jadeja resumed his innings on 110 not out and added 29 more runs before he was caught and bowled by Joe Root. He shared a 67-run partnership with Dhruv Jurel, who made a gritty 37 on his debut. Jadeja also became the first Indian player to score a century and take two or more wickets in a Test match at home.
England’s bowlers struggled to find any assistance from the pitch, which remained flat and slow. James Anderson was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Root and Jack Leach took two each. England also missed a few chances in the field, as India’s lower order batsmen frustrated them with some useful contributions.
England lose early wickets in reply
England’s hopes of making a comeback in the match were dashed by Jadeja’s bowling in the final session. The spinner dismissed both the openers, Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed, in quick succession. Burns was caught at slip by Rohit Sharma for 12, while Hameed was trapped lbw for 9.
England’s captain Root and Ben Duckett tried to steady the innings, but they could not score freely against India’s disciplined bowling. At stumps, England were 50-2, still trailing by 64 runs. Root was unbeaten on 19, while Duckett was on 8.
England will need a big partnership from their middle order to avoid the follow-on and stay in the game. India, on the other hand, will look to wrap up England’s innings as soon as possible and press for a victory.
Jadeja’s century delights home crowd
The highlight of the day was Jadeja’s century, which he reached on the first day with a six off Leach. It was his second Test hundred and his first in India. He celebrated his milestone by waving his bat to the crowd and kissing the pitch.
Jadeja played a fluent and confident innings, hitting 11 fours and two sixes in his 225-ball knock. He showed his skill and temperament against England’s spinners, who could not trouble him much. He also rotated the strike well with his partners and kept the scoreboard ticking.
Jadeja’s century was also a special moment for his family and friends, who were present at the stadium to cheer him on. His father, Anirudhsinh Jadeja, said that he was proud of his son’s achievement and that it was a dream come true for him. His wife, Riva Solanki, also expressed her happiness and said that she was lucky to witness his century.
India eye series win in Rajkot
The third Test is a crucial one for both the teams, as India lead the five-match series 1-0. India won the second Test in Visakhapatnam by 106 runs, while the first Test in Chennai ended in a draw. India are aiming to win their ninth consecutive Test series at home, while England are hoping to end their losing streak in Asia.
The pitch in Rajkot is expected to deteriorate as the match progresses, which will favour India’s spinners. England will have to bat well in their first innings to avoid a big deficit and put pressure on India. The weather forecast for the next three days is sunny and dry, which means that there is a high chance of a result in the match.
