India put 445 runs on the board for England to chase on Day 2 of the third Test in Rajkot and the Three Lions replied with 207 of their own. Here's how it unfolded
A shaky start aside, India dominated play on Day 1 of their third Test against England, with Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja hitting crucial tons. India, who lost three wickets early, put 326 on the board, largely in part to Sharma and Jadeja, but also through Sarfaraz Khan's sensational debut half-century, which was the key talking point at the closing. (Streaming | Cricket News)
India will now resume the action, hoping to pick up where they had left of, with half the team still to play. Follow the action here live.
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), KS Bharat (WK), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep.
England: Ben Stokes (C), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow (WK), Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood.
India's decision toward the end of Day 1 was abundantly clear: by sending Kuldeep Yadav in ahead of Dhruv Jurel, the Men in Blue wanted to give the young debutant - and those after him - a clean slate to draw upon on Day 2.
Jurel, a wicket-keeper-batter, received his maiden Test cap from Dinesh Karthik ahead of the match in Rajkot, and will, in all likelihood, get to taste his first slice of the action on Day 2.
The teams are back on the pitch in Rajkot, with Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav representing India. India are 326 for the loss of five wickets, and will be aiming, at least, a 400+ score.
Joe Root to bowl first for England. Here we go!
Just two runs to show for from the first over on Day 2, with Kuldeep Yadav defending all six bowls from Joe Root admirably. England immediately send James Anderson back in the attack to shake things up. India 328/5.
Kuldeep Yadav edges one behind into the grateful hands of Ben Foakes, and the night watchman's watch is over. He walks back, courtesy of the experienced James Anderson, and is replaced by debutant Dhruv Jurel, who is receiving currently some words of wisdom by Ravindra Jadeja.
It's turning out to be a repeat of session 1 on Day 1, with India losing another wicket cheaply. This time, crucially, it's the centurion Jadeja, who lobs one straight into the grasp of Joe Root at the bowling end. India now have two new batters on the pitch, with Ravichandran Ashwin joining debutant Dhruv Jurel. Jadeja walks back after 112 from 225; India 331/7.
...who has defended himself admirably from a terrifying Jimmy Anderson spell, so far. Jurel has faced eight balls, all from Anderson, and is yet to make a run. On the flip side, the youngster has resisted the temptation to go all in early on and, instead, has played with the kind of maturity that would please his coaches.
Both Ashwin and Jurel are now on the board, which is good news for India and, especially, for the young Jurel, who has had to endure a difficult start to his Test career...
...and now he replies with a stunning six off Mark Wood!
As we approach the 100th over of the Indian innings. It has been an outstanding display, so far, from the hosts.
England will start their innings at 5/0 without facing a ball after the umpire charged India with a run penalty for improper play. Ravindra Jadeja had received the first warning on the first day for running in the line of wickets and it seemed to have repeated itself with Ravichandran Ashwin on Day 2. A unique scenario this.
India are in the ascendancy here, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Dhruv Jurel set on the crease. The hosts lost two wickets early but recovered quickly to resume their march toward a 400+ target. Debutant Jurel has impressed in his first Test innings, playing with a calm and maturity of someone much more experienced than himself, while Ashwin has kept things ticking at a consistent rate.
More of the same from India?
The debutant survives by a whisker after Ollie Pope drops a catch close by, despite the ball flying straight into his hands. India approaching 400 and should cross the line in a couple of overs at this rate.
A delight for those present in Rajkot; India have been brilliant with the bat all around.
After dropping a few too many catches, England take one that could spell the end of things for India. Ashwin, batting carefully and comfortably, sends one down the track to mid on, where Jimmy Anderson grabs it in his hands at the second time of asking. India now down to their tail end, with Jurel the only outright batter remaining.
Devastating end to the innings for Dhruv Jurel, who nicks one in behind to Ben Foakes, only four away from his debut half century. The batter will be quite disappointed to surrender his wicket on the cusp of the landmark, but he has shown enough to merit another start in the series later on.
Dhruv Jurel has faced the third-most deliveries in the first innings for India after the two centurions. The wicket-keeper-batter provided calmness and control at a time when the hosts had lost key wickets.
A six, and now a couple of fours from the pace bowler as India head toward a 450 total on their ninth wicket!
Mohammed Siraj seems to have seriously hurt himself out there and, despite being treated by the physios, is moving sheepishly. It could have wider implications for the hosts, who are counting on Siraj as one of their pace options.
What have been an outstanding start for the Men in Blue could very quickly turn into a disaster.
...who lose Bumrah to an LBW. The bowler immediately goes upstairs, but to no avail. The ball hits him plumb and he and Siraj walk back to the Pavilion. India all out for 445.
The impetus now falls on England, who will shortly begin their first innings chase.
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett on the crease; will we see a dose of Bazball this afternoon?
Jasprit Bumrah starts India off. England already have six runs on the board - five due to a penalty and one through an extra.
Mohammed Siraj seems to be doing okay! He's on the crease to bowl his first over of the match in Rajkot.
Defying expeections, England have begun their first innings with caution as they look to chase a high score from India. Neither Crawley nor Duckett have looked explosive, so far, but, more pertinently for India, they haven't looked close to giving away their wickets. England 31 for no loss at Tea, chasing 445.
A crucial session of cricket coming up for both teams. England would want to get to the end of the day without any major accidents along the way, while India will be angling for a couple of wickets, at least, before closing..
Crawley and Duckett have slightly picked up the tempo, possibly to cross the 100-run mark by closing today, and are attacking the ball with more aggression. They reach 50 in nine overs, with plenty left to play in the day.
The England batter reaches his half century in just 39 balls. A brilliant opening for the visitors here in Rajkot.
The veteran spinner takes his 500th wicket a and removes Zak Crawley from the crease! What a moment for the bowler. Patidar takes the catch to bring Ashwin up to his landmark.
They trail India by 345 runs with Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett on the crease.
A sensational ton for Ben Duckett, who has scored the fastest ton by an England batter in India. The opener gets to 102 in 88 balls with a beautiful straight drive that goes on for four.
And he follows it up with another boundary! We have seen some impressive batting in the third Test already, and Duckett is right up there at the top.
England now fewer than 300 runs behind India.
What a break this could prove to be for India! Siraj traps Ollie Pope before the wicket but the soft signal is not out and India, in desperation, give away four runs on an overthrow. However, with seconds remaining in the review countdown, captain Rohit Sharma goes upstairs and gets the decision overturned, the ball adjudged to be hitting the wickets by a whisker.
England lose Pope before the end of the session, against the momentum.
This has been a productive session for the visitors, who, despite losing two wickets have crossed the 200-run mark. They trail India by 245 runs at the time of writing, and will be aiming to bite away at that total in the morning session tomorrow.
England end the session with 207 runs on the board at the loss of three wickets. The Three Lions have been aggressive, pushing through to cover as much ground as possible, with Ben Duckett the standout performer with his century.
India, who had finished their innings on 445, will now aim to limit England in the first session on Day 3 tomorrow.