Rohit, Jadeja and Sarfaraz dig India out of trouble against England

Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja both struck centuries to take India to 326-5 after England made a stunning start to the first day of the third Test in Rajkot.

Asked to field after losing the toss, England had the hosts 33-3 inside the first hour and could have made that 47-4 had Joe Root held an edge at slip when Rohit had 27.

Reprieved, Rohit stroked an elegant 131 in a fourth-wicket partnership of 204 with Jadeja, promoted to number five on his return from a hamstring injury.

After Rohit fell, debutant Sarfaraz Khan dominated a stand of 77 with Jadeja. Sarfaraz, with a first-class average of almost 70 and whose father was in tears when he was presented with his cap, crashed a sparkling 62 from only 66 balls.

With Jadeja on 99 and Sarfaraz keen to run a single, Jadeja sent him back, too late to beat Mark Wood’s direct hit from mid-on.

Jadeja reached his hundred from the next ball, but the wicket of Sarfaraz was a gift for England, just as the day seemed to be getting away from the tourists.

Wood, on his return to the England side after missing the second Test, was the pick of the bowlers with 3-69, well supported by the miserly James Anderson.

India perhaps had marginally the better of the day, but England fought hard. This is shaping up to be another compelling contest in a series perfectly poised at 1-1. (BBC Sport)