- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
The Three Lions were pegged back after they came out in the chase for a massive target of 557 runs in the third Test in Rajkot.
By: Shubham Ghosh
ENGLAND, who arrived for the ongoing five-Test series in India with a lot of preparations and expectations and went on to win the first game in Hyderabad, have now found themselves in a spot after losing the next two matches in a row. The Three Lions will have to win both the remaining matches now to win the series but given their dismal show in the second innings of the third Test in Rajkot, those favouring the “Bazball” brand of cricket were not feeling too confident.
Chasing a massive total of 557 in the match after India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal slammed his second double century in two matches, the visitors were never comfortable and were forced to change their batting style, thanks to a disciplined bowling performance by the Indians.
Expected to begin their chase on a brisk note like they had done in the first innings after India posted a total of 445, England batters were left frustrated by India’s two opening pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. The two England openers — Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett — who are known for dealing in boundaries to unsettle the opponents earlier in the innings, played out two maiden overs before adding the first runs on the board.
Read: India crush hapless England by 434 runs to lead Test series 2-1
Duckett, who made a century in the first outing, was the first to get dismissed as he was run out in the seventh over with the team total reading just 15. Joe Root, one of England’s most prolific batters in the format but having a lean patch in the series, took 40 balls for his seven runs before getting leg before off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja, who picked five wickets in the second innings after hitting a hundred in the first.
During Root’s frustrating stay at the wicket when he went into an ultra-defensive mode, Bumrah was heard making a hilarious sledge after completing the 11th over of England’s second innings.
Read: Why England started from 5 for no loss in third Test vs India
Taking a dig at “Bazball”, he smilingly told a teammate in Hindi as he collected his cap from the umpire, “Ab toh maar hi nahi rahe hain, dekh zara (Now they’re not attacking at all, just look at that!).”
missed it live but this has ended me, how does he sound polite even when sledging ?? https://t.co/5nHkVdoPhv pic.twitter.com/2DC9ND0HJA
— Rahul (@exceedingxpuns) February 19, 2024
Bumrah, who has been bowling well in this series, gave just 18 runs in eight overs taking the wicket of Crawley, while Siraj conceded only 15 runs in his six even though he went wicketless following his four-scalp burst in the first.
England captain Ben Stokes however insisted his team won’t abandon ‘Bazball’ despite criticism.
“Everyone has an opinion or a perception of things but the people in the dressing room really matter to us,” he said after England were bowled out for 122 in nearly 40 overs and lost the match by 434 runs, a record victory margin for India.
“We know things don’t always work out exactly how you want them to. We are 2-1 down and have a chance to win 3-2,” Stokes said, adding, “We will leave this game behind us. We have to win the next two to win the series and that’s what we will be trying to do.”
