Day 3: KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja put India ahead in rain-marred Test vs England

KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah led India’s struggles on Day 3 as the visitors earned a 95-run lead in the first innings before rain stopped play shortly after the start of the third session, England showing 25/0 and trailing the visitors by 70 runs.

KL Rahul, who was chosen to open the innings in the absence of injured openers Shubman Gill and Mayank Agarwal, looked determined to capitalize on the opportunity as he held the innings with an 84 off 214 balls. After Rahul’s departure, Ravindra Jadeja played the role of anchor/aggressor hitting eight fours and a six in his 56 off 86 deliveries at Trent Bridge.

For England, medium pacer Ollie Robinson emerged as the most successful bowler as he bagged an impressive 5/85, leading the team out in the presence of legends such as James Anderson, who finished with figures of 4/54 from 23 overs. Anderson surpassed Anil Kumble to become the third-highest wicket-taker in the bowlers’ list behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne with 621 wickets.

Among his wickets were the team’s top scorer Rahul and the captain Virat Kohli. The Indians were up to the task, especially the likes of Rahul and Jadeja, while Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah contributed useful runs.

Earlier, Rahul continued to defy the England bowlers with dogged determination as India overtook the home team’s first innings score in another rain-hit opening session. Once India resumed on 125-4, only 11 balls could be bowled before rain forced the players off the field. When they returned, Rishabh Pant produced an entertaining cameo before becoming Ollie Robinson’s second victim in the match.

The first Test between India and England also marks the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle.