Rajkot: Skipper Rohit Sharma's and Ravindra Jadeja's gritty centuries, and Sarfaraz Khan's heroics in debut match helped India to recover from 33 for 3 and post 326 for 5 at stumps of day 1 of the third test of the five-match series against England at Niranjan Shah Stadium here on Thursday.
Opting to bat, India were under pressure when they lost opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and one down Shubman Gill, the centurions of the previous game, and Rajat Patidar, who was playing second game inside an hour of the start of play.
Instead of sending either of the debutant under such immense pressure, India's team management promoted the local boy Ravindra Jadeja at number five to stitch a partnership with the skipper.
Jadeja along with the captain took time understand the pace and bounce of the pitch, playing out the first session and ensured that they will not lose another wicket. In the second session, both the batters got the momentum and start to play their shots. Rohit Sharma soon reached to his fifty while Jadeja was also scoring runs steadily without taking any kind of risks, scoring at healthy run rate of 3.36. India didn't lose the wicket in the second session and took the score to 190 at the tea break without a loss of any wicket. Notably, this was the first instance of the series where batting side didn't lost a single wicket in an entire session.
The 37-year-old scored the oldest captain to score century in Test cricket, securing a couple of double in the very first over of the third session. And both Jadeja and Rohit took the charge and started to score quickly. In the process, Rohit lost his wicket while playing his favourite pull shot against Mark Wood while skipper Stokes accepted the dolly at covers. But then, Sarfaraz Khan stole the headlines scoring his maiden half century on 48 deliveries, becoming the player with third fastest Indian to score fifty on his Test debut. But soon after his fifty, lost his wicket in the form run out, courtesy of Jadeja's tragical call. Sarfaraz ended up scoring a 66-ball 62 in his maiden Test innings.
Live Updates from first innings
- Over 86 (326/5)
Ravindra Jadeja, who scored his fourth hundred, defended the last ball of the over and remained unbeaten on 110 runs at the stumps of day 1 while Kuldeep, who came to bat at number seven, will start the next day on one. India finished the day at 326/5, losing two big wickets to Rohit Sharma (131) and debutant Sarfaraz Khan, who scored 62 off just 66 balls. All these crucial knocks came after India were stranded at 33/3 in the first session of the day. England, on the other hand, got the start they would have wanted after losing the crucial toss on a batting-friendly pitch of Rajkot. But they couldn't hold on to the advantage and failed to maintain the over India batters, who had smashed them all over the park in the last session. However, Mark Wood, who emerged as the most successful bowler for the visitors on Day 1, claimed three wickets in his 17 overs while also involved in Sarfaraz's run out on a direct hit. - Over 84 (315/5)
England have taken the new ball and India have sent Kuldeep Yadav in the middle as night-watchman. Indian batters have already made their shutters down. They are not looking for boundaries or even for singles. - Over 82 (315/5)
This was probably the most happening over of the match. Jadeja first plays two dot ball then took the single taking his score 99, and Sarfaraz returned the strike to him without wasting time. On the very next ball, Jadeja ran debutant out. Rohit Sharma looked so furious in the dressing room after the wickets while Sarfaraz and his father couldn't believe on what has happened here for a moment. However, Sarfaraz takes the long walk back to the pavilion on 62 off 66 balls. The innings which was full of entertainment includes nine fours and a six. - Over 81 (310/4)
Bowling change from the other end as well. Mark Wood comes into the attack from the other end with old ball. The second new ball is available, but hasn't been taken just yet. The right-arm pacer looking to bowl six consecutive bouncers against the debutant Sarfaraz, hoping he edges it the fielder while playing a pull shot. - Over 80 (310/4)
Anderson comes back into the attack, and bowls a maiden straightaway. Jadeja has no hurry to complete his century. - Over 79 (310/4)
India have scored 41 runs in the last six overs which tells you the dominance of Indian batters had in the last half-hour. Sarfaraz has scored 61 runs of 73-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who is batting at 96. - Over 78 (306/4)
The runs are coming quickly for India here Niranjan Shah cricket stadium. Sarfaraz continues to smash Englishmen's to the fence in almost every year. A total of seven runs came from the over including a boundary. - Over 77 (299/4)
Sarfaraz shimmies down the pitch and brings up his maiden half-century on his debut. He reached to maiden half century in just 48 deliveries scoring bulk of the runs of the 62-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. He looked little nervous when he came into the middle, but once he got settled down, he smashed everyone in every part of the ground. - Over 76 (291/4)
Sarfaraz hitting for boundaries for fun. He seats of his knee and whacks it towards deep mid-wicket boundary for a four. This boundary take this partnership to go past fifty-run landmark. The right-hand batter has also entered into 40s in quick time, taking only 45 deliveries to score his first 43 runs. - Over 74 (273/4)
Sarfaraz is now playing at least one sweep shot per over. The important this is that he is executing it like boss. The partnership is into 40s now. - Over 73 (269/4)
Indian batters accumulated four singles in first four balls and then Jadeja defend the last two deliveries to finish the over. India have accumulated 37 runs in the last 10 overs. - Over 72 (265/4)
Sarfaraz Ahmed bring out his sweep shot and this time send the ball to the fence. However, Englishmen's thought that they are in the game for a moment but it was quite far from the fielder. - Over 71 (259/4)
Tom Hartley replaced Mark Wood in the attack. He bowl six beautiful deliveries to Indian batters and they have also given respect to it. Just a single came from it. - Over 70 (258/4)
It looks like Sarfaraz has settled him down now. He is now playing percentage cricket shots, trying not to play unorthodox shots earlier in the innings. The right-hand batter sent the short pitch delivery on the wide line for a boundary against Rehand Ahmed. Now, he has scored two fours on his name. Ravindra Jadeja, on the other hand, is just ten runs away from completing his second century against England. - Over 69 (252/4)
Sarfaraz smashed his first four of his Test career to take India past 250-run mark. Jadeja intching closer to his fourth century in the longest format of the game. - Over 68 (246/4)
Jadeja presses forward and defends four consecutive deliveries before taking a couple of runs on the fifth delivery. Joe Root finished the over with nice outside off delivery, the local guy didn't play the shot at all and let the ball go to the wicket-keeper. - Over 67 (244/4)
Sarfaraz still surviving in a nervous way. He somehow managed to get bat on to the ball after going on the backfoot for a fuller length delivery. Jadeja doing the right thing by keeping strike with him, letting Sarfaraz to settle down mentally. Just two runs came from the over. - Over 66 (242/4)
Sarfaraz open his international Test runs account with three runs. Suddenly after Rohit's wickets, batting is looking hard and we can hear few voices appeals from the visitors. England got one wicket and their energy levels have gone high.
Sarfaraz Khan in FC cricket since 2020
Matches: 34
Inns: 49
Runs: 3377
Avg: 84.42
50/100: 9/13 (Eight 150-plus scores)
HS: 301* - Over 65 (238/4)
Sarfaraz Ahmed, who came into bat at number six, is yet to score his first runs in International cricket. On the very first ball against spinner, he went on to play sweep shot and clearly missed it.
Highest partnerships for 4th wicket for IND vs ENG
249 - Sachin Tendulkar & Sourav Ganguly, Headingley, 2002
222 - Vijay Manjrekar & Vijay Hazare, Headingley, 1952
204 - Rohit Sharma & Ravindra Jadeja, Rajkot, 2024
190 - Mohammad Azharuddin & Mohinder Amarnath, Chennai, 1985
189 - Mohammad Azharuddin & Sanjay Manjrekar, Old Trafford, 1990 - Over 64 (237/4)
Mark Wood does his job, removing dangerous Rohit Sharma and breaking the monumental partnership between the skipper and Jadeja. Rohit showed a little aggressive approach post tea break which at the end cost him his wicket. Rohit went for pull shot, but didn't come on the pace which he has expected and the ball hit the bottom of the bat. He made 131 runs in his attractive innings that includes 14 fours and three sixes. - Over 62 (230/3)
The runs are starting to flow now. Rohit Sharma-Ravindra Jadeja have accumulated 45 runs in the last 10 overs. The partnership is just three runs away to cross 200-run mark. - Over 61 (224/3)
Rohit Sharma is in the full mood to take on English bowlers. He make the full use of the half-volley and whacked it towards deep mid wicket and then pulled it over mid-on for a boundary. Ten runs came from the Rehan Ahmed's 10th over. With a six in this over, Rohit currently has a record 593 sixes across formats.
Most sixes as captain in international cricket
233 - Eoin Morgan
212* - Rohit Sharma
211 - MS Dhoni
171 - Ricky Ponting
170 - Brendon McCullum - Over 60 (214/3)
Jadeja played a half-hearted pull, trying to keep the ball down, but it took the top edge of the bat. It first seemed like a opportunity to send Jadeja back, but went all over ropes for six. India finished the with eight runs including two singles in it. - Over 59 (206/3)
England have created two half chances against Rohit Sharma in the span of three overs. This time, he went for slog sweep but failed to connect it and it went into the air but landed safely, in no mans land. - Over 58 (204/3)
Anderson continues to do for what he is known for. He comes in, bowls it on fourth fifth stump line and waiting for the batter to play a risky shot or mistime it. - Over 57 (202/3)
Rehan concedes two runs for the second consecutive time since Tea break. - Over 56 (200/3)
Anderson bowled his fifth delivery on Rohit Sharma's pads, and he whacks it four a boundary towards deep square-leg which bring up 200-run mark for India. Rohit-Jadeja partnership have not only scored runs but they have released a huge amount of pressure from the couple of debutants, who are currently seating in the dugout and watching the game. - Over 55 (195/3)
Rehan tries to exploit some help from the pitch and use a small created outside off stump against a left-handed batter. Rohit shows his solid defence. A nice over from Rehan, only two runs came from it. - Over 54 (193/3)
Anderson to continue from the other end, LBW appeal against Rohit Sharma straightaway, but umpire didn't support the visitors. Anderson got the backing from wicket-keeper Ben Foakes and captain Ben Stokes went for a review. The ball trajectory showed that the impact was outside off stump and hence third umpire asked on-field umpire to stay with his decision. India on the verge of reaching 200-run mark. - Over 53 (190/3)
With the couple of doubles in the over, Rohit Sharma brings up his 11th Test century and eighth as an opener. Truly a masterclass innings from the skipper, when India needed it the most. India were struggling 33/3 and then he took local boy Ravindra Jadeja with him and stitched marathon partnership of 150+ runs and counting. Five runs came from the over. - Over 52 (185/3)
Rohit-Jadeja orchestrat 150-run stand as a short ball is punished by the latter. Root bowled a delivery halfway down the pitch and Jadeja shifted his weight on backfoot to smack the ball beyond the boundary ropes. - Over 49 (174/3)
Four runs scored from the over both the batters against Rehan Ahmed. - Over 48 (170/3)
Jadeja drives a full length delivery from Root and drives the ball powerfully and it goes wide of mid-on. Four runs for the batter and it is a five-run over for the spinner. - Over 47 (165/3)
A full toss from Rehan Ahmed and Rohit whips it wide of mid-on with great timing. Brilliant shot against spin bowling and the Indian skipper is now inching close towards his century. - Over 46 (160/3)
Rohit Sharma comes down the track and and smacks a delivery over long-on for maximum. The Indian opener connected a tossed up delivery very well and the over started with a six. - Over 45 (152/3)
A couple of runs from the over and the pair will now aim to up the pace of the innings. - Over 44 (150/3)
Fifty for Ravindra Jadeja and the duo is getting into the groove with the willow now. More than 100-run partnership so far and they can take the team towards a decent total. - Over 43 (146/3)
Only two runs from the over thanks to a cautious approach from both the batters while facing Tom Hartley. - Over 42 (144/3)
A tidy over from Mark Wood and so the batters were able to take only one run from the over. - Over 41 (143/3)
A fraction short from Hartley and Rohit cuts the delivery for four runs. The Indian batters are now capitalise any error in the length from bowlers. - Over 40 (139/3)
Jadeja played a cut against back off length delivery from Mark Wood to earn a boundary in the over. Six runs from the over by Wood and Jadeja is nearing his fifty now. - Over 39 (133/3)
100-run stand between Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja and they have stabilized the innings with their fine strokeplay. - Over 38 (130/3)
Rare lose delivery from Anderson drifting on the pads and Rohit capitalised on it playing it towards fine-leg to help the ball towards boundary skirting. Four runs from the over by James Anderson. - Over 37 (126/3)
Rohit Sharma bowled a tossed up delivery outside off but the right-handed batter nicked the ball. However, the ball raced went past slip towards third man and the batters have taken three runs with their running between the wickets. - Over 36 (123/3)
A maiden over from Anderson as he is still bowling consistency in the tight spots and troubling the opposition batters with some seam movement. - Over 35 (123/3)
Rohit took two runs from the over by Tom Hartely. Both the batters are now settled on the crease and they are building a solid partnership. - Over 34 (121/3)
James Anderson is right on the money from the start. He is bowling some economical overs and the batters are not able to play with ease against the veteran pacer. - Over 33 (119/3)
Rohit goes against the passage of play and dances down the track to whack a good length delivery over long-on for a six. The Indian opener is now showing intent to steer the scoreboard. - Over 32 (111/3)
England bowlers are putting the opposition batters under pressure and one more maiden overs has restricted the flow of runs. - Over 31 (111/3)
Only a couple of runs from Hartley's over and India are heading towards 150-run mark. - Over 30 (109/3)
The tempo of the innings has slowed down a bit and the Indian side and the duo has built a 78-run partnership so far. - Over 29 (107/3)
A maiden over from Tom Hartley as Rohit is handling the spinner with caution. Both the batters have settled on the crease now. - Over 28 (107/3)
Wood beat Jadeja on the outside edge but the ball raced away to the boundary line which played a role in making it a six-run over. - Over 27 (101/3)
Only one run from the over by Jadeja against Hartley. A tidy over. - Over 26 (100/3)
Wood drifted down the leg throughout the over and both the batters garnered seven runs in the over. - Over 25 (93/3)
Three runs in the last over before Tea bowled by Rehan Ahmed. Both the batters at the crease played the leg-spinner with caution. - Over 24 (90/3)
Ravindra Jadeja also joins the party as he smacks two boundaries against Joe Root as he smacks one through the covers. Also, a low full toss was capitalised by the left-handed batter as he drives it wide of mid-on. - Over 23 (81/3)
Rohit flicked a low full toss on leg-stump by Hartley towards deep backward square leg to complete his half-century. An innings of struggle for the right-handed batter but he has now settled quite well at the crease. - Over 22 (78/3)
Joe Root bowled a delivery drifted down the leg and Rohit swept the ball away towards fine-leg for a boundary. - Over 21 (72/3)
Tom Hartley bowls a delivery drifting inwards and the inside edge from his willow helped him take a single. - Over 20 (71/3)
Joe Root comes into the attack and bowls a maiden over to start his spell. - Over 19 (71/3)
A short delivery from Hartley and Rohit comes down the track to attack the ball with a pull. It wasn't perfectly timed but he still gets four runs for his stroke. - Over 18 (67/3)
Maiden over from Anderson as he is bowling in tight areas and not allowing the batters to free their arms. - Over 17 (67/3)
Rohit comes down the track to attack Hartley. He lofts the delivery straight down the ground and secures four runs from it. - Over 16 (62/3)
Rohit played a shot from back foot against Anderson's good-length delivery. He punched the dlivery from backfoot and scored four runs off it. - Over 15 (56/3)
Some positive intent from Jadeja as he dives a ball straight down the ground from Hartley and amasses four runs. - Over 14 (50/3)
Rohit is facing a lot of trouble while facing both the bowlers and he was adjudged LBW by the umpire. However, DRS by the Indian team showed a inside edge and the decision was overturned. - Over 13 (49/3)
Rohit has now adapted attacking intent against Hartley and smacked two boundaries. He earned one boundary with a blistering square cut and then played a slogsweep to get four more runs. - Over 12 (39/3)
Wood continues bowl in right areas and causing a lot of discomfort for both the batters on the crease. - Over 11 (34/3)
A maiden over from Tom Hartley as he is getting a lot of turn from the surface. The spinners is continuously troubling Rohit and the Indian captain is not able to free his arms against the bowler. - Over 10 (34/3)
Wood is troubling both the batters on the crease with his express pace. A brilliant exhibition of fast bowling from Wood in the game so far. - Over 8.5 (33/3)
Tom Hartley's delivery to Rajat Patidar gripped and turned from the pitch. Patidar was going on backfoot to play a cut but the sharp turn deceived him and the batter lobbed the ball towards cover where Ben Duckett took a simple catch. - Over 8 (32/2)
Patidar smacks a boundary against Mark Wood through the the cover as he punches one from backfoot. Four runs for the batter and that will boost his confidence. - Over 7 (25/2)
Anderson is supporting Wood very well by bowling in the tight areas. Another brilliant over from the senior pacer. - Over 5.4 (24/2)
Second wicket for Mark Wood as the pacer bowled a delivery outside off with slight seam movement. Gill played at it as the delivery was angling in and nicked it. Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes grabbed the catch with ease. - Over 5 (23/1)
James Anderson bowled on tight line and lengths in the over to trouble Shubman Gill only one run from the over. - Over 3.5 (22/1)
A breakthrough for England as Mark Wood strikes on the penultimate delivery of the over. The good length delivery angling away from Yashasvi found the edge of his willow and the batter is caught in the slips as a result. A big blow for India as Yashasvi was looking solid on the crease. - Over 3 (17/0)
Another brilliant hit from James Anderson as the left-handed batter pushes it straight down the ground from backfoot. Ollie Pope tries to prevent the ball from going boundary but he is unable to stop the four runs. - Over 2 (13/0)
Looks like Indian openers are not sparing anything full. Mark Wood bowled third delivery of the over in full length and Rohit hits an on-drive which races to the four. Rohit is looking solid at his crease. - Over 1 (6/0)
The first over of the match turned out to be action-packed one. Yashasvi Jaiswal started the innings with an off drive against full delivery from James Anderson which raced to boundary. The veteran pacer bowled a no-ball in the over as well and also bowled a brilliant out-swinger to beat Rohit on his outside edge.
