At the end of day two of the Rajkot Test, it was England who were the happier of the two teams. Having bowled India out for under 450, they had raced to 207-2 at stumps while scoring at more than 6 runs an over. Clearly, India hadn’t anticipated the assault and were rattled. And soon after, it was revealed that Ravi Ashwin, India’s go-to bowler, had to leave the team for personal reasons to be with family. Rohit Sharma and the team management needed a Plan B. If they had to take control, they needed to put in a lion-hearted effort as a collective. It was a real test against a team that’s known to come hard, and with a bowler down, India needed to show special resolve.
That’s what we got from the entire bowling unit led by Jasprit Bumrah. India, to start with, were disciplined. Not trying too hard, they kept England at bay and were waiting for the mistake. It was much like a game of cat and mouse, and Rohit, the skipper, was on the money from ball one on day three. And the mistake duly came. Joe Root, who has found new ways of getting out each innings, decided to reverse-paddle Bumrah. The connection was strong, but the elevation wasn’t there. A sharp catch to Yashasvi Jaiswal and, all of a sudden, India had an opening.
That wicket seemed to inspire Kuldeep Yadav, who started bowling a few notches better from the very next over. He soon got Jonny Bairstow with a ball that came in sharply, and the match was in the balance. Thereafter, Kuldeep got Ben Duckett and Ravindra Jadeja got Stokes caught in the deep to rock England. It was real drama in Rajkot when Bumrah backpeddled to hold the Stokes skier.
India’s fortunes were soaring and England were plunging themselves into misery. A lead of 126 was what India ended with, and more than anything, it was a team effort. Everyone had pitched in, and that’s what stood out. It was for Ashwin and the team. Rohit led beautifully and Bumrah set the tone with a lion-hearted effort , which Mohammed Siraj capped by picking the last three.
We all look for fight in a team. And that’s what we got from India on day 3. They had stopped England from playing Bazball, and that was the early difference between days two and three. The scoring rate had fallen from six to three, and it was a success of Rahul Dravid, Rohit and the think tank. The plans were made and every bowler was up to the task of executing them well.
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Rohit and Dravid have been criticised in the past for letting games drift. For turning too defensive. In Rajkot, however, they were superb. Marshalling the team in the absence of Ashwin, the captain made sure there was no negativity going into the day and the intensity, which is what we want to see in a team, was at its best. Rohit’s India meant business and England clearly hadn’t expected a comeback as strong.
The bowling was only half the job. Thereafter, India needed to bat well to set things up. And that’s what they got from Jaiswal and Shubman Gill. While one was aggressive after initial circumspection, the other played a conventional Test innings. But the moot point is, both played with purpose after the skipper had been dismissed. They knew that India need to set England 400 or more on a good wicket, and that’s what they set about doing. Purpose, composure and resolve – each of these attributes was there in abundance in the Indian second innings.
India aren’t home yet. The lead needs to stretch to 450 perhaps. But what we saw on day 3 was enough evidence that this team is a collective. It isn’t dependant on individual champions, but knows how to rally behind the captain and the bowlers at a time of need. They knew they had to stand up for Ashwin, and they did. Not asking Ben Stokes to make an exception was evidence India do not seek favours. Rather, each player was keen to take up additional responsibility and set things up.
Assuming Jaiswal bats again, all India need is one good session on day 4 to take complete control. Thereafter, it will be on Bumrah, Jadeja, Siraj and Kuldeep. On a wearing pitch, it is a good enough attack to make up for Ashwin’s absence and take a 2-1 lead. If that happens, it will be one of the best Test wins for the Rohit-Dravid combine, a Test win achieved when the best was missing and a talisman had to leave midway. It will be a win for resolve and attitude. For courage and the newly coined term – Wallball.
Also Read: Siraj, Jaiswal shine bright, as India take control of Rajkot Test