In the first Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Ravindra Jadeja's impressive knock of 87 helped India finish their first innings on day three at 436 runs in 121 overs, establishing a substantial lead of 190 runs over England. The pitch showed signs of slowing down, causing India to add only 15 runs to their overnight total in the first hour of play on day three. Jadeja fell short of a century by 13 runs.
England's Joe Root proved to be the most successful bowler, claiming 4-79. Rehan Ahmed and debutant Tom Hartley took two wickets each, while Jack Leach secured one scalp. Root and Mark Wood began the morning with eight controlled overs, attempting to contain Jadeja and Axar Patel.
As Leach entered the attack, Axar seized the opportunity and struck consecutive boundaries off his overpitched deliveries. However, Root returned to dismiss Jadeja lbw, marking the left-hander as the third Indian batter in the innings to be out in the 80s. On the very next ball, Root bowled an off-break to dismiss Jasprit Bumrah through the gate.
Axar attempted a cut off Rehan, but the leg-break delivery kept low, beating the batter on the inside edge and crashing into the stumps, bringing an end to India's innings. With England trailing by 190 runs, it's now the turn of the Indian bowlers to showcase their skills in the second innings on a slower pitch with unpredictable bounce.
Brief scores: England 246 trails India 436 in 121 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 87, KL Rahul 86; Joe Root 4-79, Rehan Ahmed 2-105) by 190 runs
(With Agency Inputs)
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