Watch: Rohit Sharma Expresses Frustration over Ravichandran Ashwin and Rajat Patidar’s Fielding Blunders
The Indian team, known for its exceptional fielding in the ongoing first Test, witnessed a moment of fielding lapses from spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and substitute fielder Rajat Patidar. As Ashwin attempted to chase down a boundary, both players found themselves in pursuit, resulting in a missed opportunity to prevent the ball from reaching the ropes. This lack of coordination led to frustration from Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who expressed displeasure with the subpar fielding display.
During an attempt to save a boundary, Ashwin’s sliding maneuver was impeded by Patidar’s simultaneous effort. The consequence was a missed chance to save what could have been an easily preventable four runs. The day’s play saw England staging a commendable comeback in their second innings on Day 3 of the Hyderabad Test. After dismissing the hosts for 436 runs, England concluded the day at 172/5 after 42 overs at Lunch.
Missed Opportunities: Ashwin, Patidar’s Fielding Mishap Adds Twist to the Test
England’s batsmen Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes aimed to build on their partnership to secure a substantial first-innings lead. Pope showcased brilliance on Day 3, remaining unbeaten at 67 runs from 94 balls alongside Ben Foakes. Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley provided a solid start, contributing 45 runs for the first wicket. Although Ashwin removed Crawley for 31 runs, Duckett continued his aggressive approach, scoring 68 runs off 57 balls before falling victim to India’s Jasprit Bumrah.
Joe Root was dismissed by Bumrah as well, and Jonny Bairstow’s contribution was limited to ten runs, courtesy of Ravindra Jadeja. England captain Ben Stokes, the top run-scorer in the first innings, was dismissed for six runs by Ashwin. Ravindra Jadeja, who fell short of a century with 87 runs, played a crucial role in India’s first innings total of 436 runs. His partnership with Axar Patel added 78 runs for the eighth wicket, with Patel scoring 44 runs.
India, holding a 189-run lead after the first innings, had the opportunity to put England on the defensive. Joe Root emerged as the top wicket-taker for England with a four-wicket haul, while Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed, and Tom Hartley claimed one and two wickets each. Despite England’s competitive first-innings display, Indian spinners dominated, accounting for eight of the ten wickets and restricting the visitors to 246 runs.In reply, India showcased aggressive batting, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja scoring 80, 86, and 87 runs, respectively.
19:30 IST
