Despite conceding a 46-run lead in the first innings, Team India have managed to turn the tide on England on the third day of the ongoing fourth Test in Ranchi. India rocked England’s batting order, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav inflicting the damage. Ashwin got the ball rolling with the wickets of Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Joe Root, after which Kuldeep sparked an England batting collapse. The left-arm spinner refused to take India captain Rohit Sharma‘s advice, dismissing a well-set Zak Crawley on the very next ball.
In the 29th over of England’s second innings, Kuldeep was seen having a long chat with Rohit, who suggested that it might be better off if he brought the fielder in.
However, Kuldeep managed to convince Rohit that he should keep the fielder on the boundary fence. His ploy turned out to be gold as he castled Crawley on the very next ball.
Crawley, who was batting on 60, was left bamboozled as the ball turned back in and rattled his off-stump. Rohit acknowledged Kuldeep’s brilliance as he went on to hug the player with a cheeky smile on his face.
The Kuldeep Yadav effect
Crawley is left deceived by the #TeamIndia spinner’s brilliance with the ball #IDFCFirstBankTestSeries #BazBowled #JioCinemaSports #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/T5IE3Fwd3l
” JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 25, 2024
Meanwhile, Ashwin (5/51) and Kuldeep (4/22) shared nine wickets as England were bowled out for 145 in their second innings, setting India a 192-run target in the final session on day 3
Resuming at 120/5 post tea, England could not deny Kuldeep, who kept troubling the visiting team batters consistently while adding more wickets to his tally.
Having snaffled the key wickets of Zak Crawley (60) and Ben Stokes (4) in the second session, Kuldeep dismissed Tom Hartley (7) and Ollie Robinson (0) in the third session.
Ashwin had taken three wickets in quick succession to help India make a comeback after the hosts conceded a 46run first-innings lead.
The senior-most bowler in the line-up, Ashwin, returned into the attack to complete his 35th five-for in Test cricket, while also going past former skipper Anil Kumble to have taken most wickets in the format for India at home.
(With PTI Inputs)
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