England is in a dire position in the third Test after a dramatic collapse, and a spectacular Yashasvi Jaiswal’s century on day three gave India complete control in Rajkot.
A breathtaking fightback on the second evening had seemingly handed England all the momentum when they resumed on 207-2 in response to India’s 445.
But the tourists lost their last eight wickets for 95 runs to be bowled out for 319, an implosion that began when Joe Root’s reverse scoop at the pace of Jasprit Bumrah was caught at second slip.
Jonny Bairstow was out the fourth ball for a duck, and Ben Duckett tamely patted a very wide delivery from Kuldeep Yadav to cover to fall for 153.
Captain Ben Stokes made 41 but became the first in a final slide of 5-29 after lunch as England conceded a first-innings deficit of 126.
Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep conjured a beguiling spell and paceman Mohammed Siraj claimed 4-84 as India’s bowlers put in a huge effort following the loss of Ravichandran Ashwin, who withdrew from the Test overnight because of a family emergency.
Jaiswal rammed home India’s advantage with his second hundred in as many matches, adding an increasingly damaging 155 with Shubman Gill, who remains 65 not out.
England’s bowlers were taken apart by India’s free scoring in the evening session before Jaiswal retired hurt with a back problem on 104.
By the end, the hosts had moved to 196-2, 322 ahead and primed to take a 2-1 lead in the series. (BBC)
