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Virat Kohli's Spirit For Gill's Team: 3 Things India Need To Do On Third Day To Stay Alive

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill [Source: @MallikarjunaNH, @AhmedGT_/x.com]Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill [Source: @MallikarjunaNH, @AhmedGT_/x.com]

With India trailing 2-1 in the series, Day 3 at Old Trafford has become the ultimate crossroads. India's solid first innings total of 358 now looks insufficient as England stormed to 225/2 in just 46 overs, with Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley making batting look effortless. 

Michael Vaughan's stark warning to India couldn't be clearer- lose this day, lose the series. What started as India's chance to level the series has rapidly transformed into a fight for survival. Here is what India must execute to stay alive.

1. Strike Early On Day 3

India's best chances lie in the first hour. England will look to bat deep and post 450-plus, having already shown their intent with aggressive strokeplay. It is very important for India that their best bowler, Jasprit Bumrah finds his rhythm immediately - his wayward show from Day 2 won't cut it when the series is on the line.

The key is extracting something out of nothing and targeting the rough patches that are already developing. The overnight batters will be looking to capitalise on the start they have got, making them slightly vulnerable if India can hold discipline at the start of Day 3. One early wicket can trigger a collapse, but India need to create pressure from ball one, not wait for breakthroughs.

2. Aggressive Field Placements and Bowling Changes

Defensive cricket hurt India on Day 2. Gill must adopt the Virat mentality that Michael Vaughan has referred to after the second day - attacking field settings even if it means conceding boundaries. Close catchers, aggressive bowling changes, and shorter spells for bowlers like debutant Anshul Kamboj.

The pitch did not offer much assistance to the Indian bowlers, so they need to manufacture pressure through tactics. This means bringing spinners into the attack earlier, trying different angles, and keeping England batters guessing rather than allowing them to settle into a rhythm.

3. Restrict England to 400 or Less

The mathematics is simple - if England posts 450-500, India faces an impossible task batting fourth on a wearing pitch. The target should be restricting England to 400 maximum, giving India a fighting chance in their second innings. 

This would require disciplined bowling in partnerships. When batters are set, bowl tight line and wait for mistakes rather than searching for miracle balls. Every over matters when you are trying to limit damage.

The series genuinely hinges on the first session of Day 3. India showed they can score runs with their 358 in their first innings. But without early wickets and aggressive tactics on Day 3, that total becomes irrelevant. Time for Gill's team to channel their inner Virat Kohli and fight.