IND vs ENG | Ashwin-Kuldeep spin webs around England to turn tide in India's favour on Day 3

Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav began Day 3 on the same note they had left off the previous evening to cautiously drag their overnight partnership of 42 runs to a formidable 76 with the former registering a maiden Test half-century in just his second outing. However, once the latter's 131-ball vigil was ended by a James Anderson delivery that kept low, Jurel pressed on the accelerator to clear the fence four times in quick succession and race to 90 even as Shoaib Bashir brought up a first five-for in red-ball cricket by dispatching Akash Deep. It eventually took a dream delivery from Tom Hartley that pitched on a crack at length and squared up the wicket-keeper batter to deprive him of a ton and hand England a significant first-innings lead of 46 at the stroke of Lunch.

England began the second session comfortably with Rohit Sharma opting to hand the new ball to the all-spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin before the latter flipped the tables around by scalping Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope on successive deliveries in the fifth over. Joe Root attempted to dig in thereafter in a 36-run stand for the third wicket but failed to repeat his first-innings heroics after being controversially given LBW off a turning Ashwin full-delivery and had to depart cheaply for 11. Zak Crawley kept gunning along nevertheless to bring up a relatively quick half-century and was ably supported by Jonny Bairstow turning up the ante with three boundaries early in his innings, prompting Rohit to bring Kuldeep into the attack. The left-arm wrist spinner instantly delivered with aplomb, getting rid of both Crawley and Ben Stokes in the space of three overs to leave the visitors reeling at 120/5 at Tea.

With just eight overs to contend with till Stumps, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit refused to subjugate to the adverse conditions and combined for five boundaries to put India within touching distance of another series victory at home.

What a story this is <3

Patidar should be the nightwatchman on current form!

Kuldeep has looked far more comfortable anyway

— Rishit_Sachinist •EF• 5.0? (@RishitShukla) February 25, 2024

Ha!

The Moment Ravi Ashwin Created History, He picked 35-Wicket haul in Tests.



- What a catch by Dhruv Jurel..!!! pic.twitter.com/ZBP5tg5jdh

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) February 25, 2024

He's the best in business!

This is exactly how I wanted India to approach this chase, good job Rohit Sharma & Yashasvi Jaiswal.#INDvsENG

— Vipul Ghatol 🇮🇳 (@Vipul_Espeaks) February 25, 2024

Hahahah! LOL