The trio of all-rounders in the Indian team – Ravi Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav – showed their worth as India took what looks like a decisive advantage in the third Test against England at Mohali on Monday.
At the end of the third day’s play, the visitors were struggling at 78/4 in their second innings, still trailing the hosts by 56 runs. England’s hopes will depend on Joe Root who is unbeaten on 36 after being asked to open the innings in the absence of the injured Haseeb Hameed.
India started off day three on a high, adding 83 runs for the loss of just one wicket in the morning session. Ashwin was dismissed for 72, a knock which played a big part in India wrestling the first innings lead away from England.
Jadeja has often been accused of not showing his best with the bat at Test level, but on this occasion, he showed versatility by balancing his innings with strong stroke play. The Saurashtra all-rounder would go on to score 90, his highest individual score in the longest format of the game.
Jayant carried on his enjoyable start to his Test career, again showing the maturity of a veteran when it came to his batting. Playing in his second Test, the 26-year-old registered his first half-century in Test cricket.
India would eventually be bowled out for 417, gaining a first innings lead of 234. Ben Stokes was the pick of the English bowlers, ending with figures of 5/73, while leg-spinner Adil Rashid continued his impressive series with four wickets to his name.
England lost four wickets before the end of play on Monday, with Ashwin once again showing why he is ranked as the number one bowler on the ICC Test rankings. The off-spinner picked up three wickets – Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes – in the final session to put India in a very advantageous position in the match.
Jayant was the other wicket-taker for India, dismissing the in-form Jonny Bairstow for 15.
BRIEF SCORES
England 283 all out and 78/4 [Root 36*, Ashwin 3/19] trail India 417 [Jadeja 90, Stokes, 5/73] by 56 runs.
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