Team India faced a shaky start to their first innings on the third day of the first test match against England. Rohit Sharma and Shubhman Gill lost their wickets early and
put the Men In Blue in an uncomfortable position. Captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, were also no better. After a series of quick wickets, the ‘Wall of India’ Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant took control of the innings. After a wonderful 100 runs
partnership, Pujara lost his Wicket in the most uncommon fashion.
The Video Of The Wicket Of Cheteshwar Pujara; England Got Lucky?
Cheteshwar Pujara was batting extra well. He was putting up a ‘fire and ice’ partnership with Rishabh Pant. That was when an unfortunate moment led to his dismissal. In the 51st over bowled by Dom Bess, Pujara pulled a short delivery. He had timed it perfectly. However, the ball struck the helmet of the silly-leg fielder close to him. It looped to Rory Burns who completed the catch with ease at mid-wicket.
Pujara was then seeing uncharacteristically reacting with anger and frustration. That was at getting out even as the English players swarmed the bowler in celebration. This was a typical reaction from Pujara that has now gone viral. On Social Media, the fans were reacting with surprise to the same.
Pujara lost his cool ?
Kohli’s reaction !
What an unluckiest dismissal this is! pic.twitter.com/wfU4O1k1Fi— middle stump (@middlestump4) February 7, 2021
Day-3 turned out to be another tiring day of cricket for the Men In Blue. This was, as the batsmen failed to make any pleasant stay on the crease. Brilliant execution with the ball assisted by equally good fielding. It saw England halt India’s batting at regular intervals. Some desperately needed courageous batting from the lower middle-order just enabled the home side to stay afloat. Things were looking dicey at the end of the third day’s play.
The Story Of The Game Not Going In Team India’s Favour?
India did not get off to a pleasant start India had to bowl another 10 overs on Day-3 to finish up the tail as the England innings which lasted over two days, came to an end at a score of 578. Having to such a mammoth total in front of them in the first innings, the Indian batsmen were expected to come out all guns blazing. However, that is not what happened as Jofra Archer dismissed both the openers in his first spell. Rohit Sharma was the first to make his way back for 6 as he was totally done with the well-directed short ball outside off.
All he managed was to edge it to Jos Buttler behind the wickets. Shubman Gill on the other hand who was looking in good nick playing at running a ball was dismissed against the run of play as he played a half-hearted shot to mid-on, and was caught by Jimmy Anderson. India finished at 59/2 at lunch with Pujara and Kohli on the crease.
The Game Looks Totally In England’s Favour
India’s formidable No.4 failed to get going. With a fabulous 218 in the first innings, the visiting captain, Joe Root had proven his worth. He was looking great with the bat in the first innings. The same was expected from the Indian skipper when he came out to bat.
At that point, it was his side reeling at 44/2. Virat Kohli contrary to everybody’s expectations looked uncomfortable in his long rusty inning of 48-ball 11. It eventually came to an end with Dom Bess trapping him with a flighted delivery. The shot was edged to Ollie Pope, who took a sharp catch at short-leg.
Dom Bess eventually tuned out to be a nemesis for India in the second session as he kind of ran through the middle order with his brilliant off break. Pujara who was standing firm at one end did not find any able company from Ajinkya Rahane either as he too fell cheaply few overs later to his bowling, thanks to an acrobatic one-handed catch from Joe Root.
What Next For Cheteshwar Pujara And Co. In This Match?
Brave batting from Pujara, Pant held the innings together India at 73/4 was in all sorts of trouble, and the fall of another wicket would mean complete disaster for them. It was then that the much-needed dogfight from Pujara and newly arrived Rishab Pant began
rebuilding the innings. Pant just seemed to resume normal services with the bat which he did back at Australia, as he played non-stop fearless strokes against the spinners in all regions, batting at a strike rate of more than 100.
Cheteshwar Pujara on the other hand too started to breathe a bit easy as he managed to find the gaps thereby tiring the bowlers with his stubborn defence and footwork. This gritty partnership enabled India to end the session at 154/4 with both Pujara and Pant getting their fifties. Things for India however did not remain sweet for long as England struck at just the right moments to push them on the back foot. Just when it seemed that this partnership had rebuilt the innings and would score big, Dom Bess again emerged as the go-to man for his team with the priceless scalp of Pujara at 73.
The Cheteswar Pujara Wicket Hurt Team India’s Intentions Of Turning Things Around
The dismissal was perhaps the rarest of all as it hit Pope’s back at short leg and was eventually caught by Burns at mid-on when Pujara attempted a short-arm jab. This broke a wonderful 119 run stand which just was on verge of becoming dangerous for the visitors. Pujara’s fall did not have any impact on Pant as the run rate and the progression of batting did not droop down. He continued his blistering batting against the spinners in particular and kept the scoreboard ticking.
For Bess however, all those three wickets weren’t all for the day as he made his day brighter with his last contribution of the day and perhaps the most vital one when he
uprooted the well set Pant at 91.
Wanting to go big again on the way to his 100, Pant mistimed one and was caught in the extra cover region, as team India’s last hopes of finishing the day with a set batsman on the crease were demolished. India after losing half their side at 212 now were totally on the backfoot with the tail on its way to being exposed.
Can Team India Turn Things Around Against This Strong England Side?
The last recognized batting pair of Ashwin and Washington Sundar just managed to play up to the expectations, as they faced over 100 balls and successfully negotiating the fall of any other wicket in the rest of the time left in the Day’s play. India somehow thus managed to reach 257/5 at the end of day’s play.
For the visitors what worked was their perfect execution of bowling spells as they picked
wickets on perfect moments never letting the batting side relax. The credit for such pressure built must also go to their fantastic work in the field. Joe Root’s catch to
dismiss Rahane and other good pieces of fielding were perfect examples which proved the points where England outperformed the Indians.
The danger of being enforced a follow on, losing quick wickets on the next day. There are many other hazards that might be in store for the hosts on Day-4. As for them, a chance to put the pressure back on the opposition seems to be almost impossible.
