4th Test, Day 3 Highlights: India ahead but England not out of it yet

Ollie Robinson and Anderson threatened to undo all the hard work done by Rohit Sharma and Chetehwar Pujara throughout the third day of the play. However, Skipper Kohli batted with supreme authority and control to limit the damage to the wickets of Pujara and Rohit.

He played some signature drives off Anderson and fended the last 11 overs of the day along with Ravindra Jadeja to not allow England a massive opening on the third day.

For England, it was a tough day in the office against an Indian batting line-up that showed signs of coming back to their best. Woakes was good in patches while Anderson and Robinson toiled hard without much reward. Other bowlers such as Craig Overton and Moeen Ali could not quite maintain a stronghold on Indian batting and the tourists earned a lead of 171 runs by the time bad light stopped play on the fourth day.

Just when India appeared running away with the game, Ollie Robinson sent both Rohit and Pujara back to the pavilion and brought England back in the game. 

Rohit was dismissed in a bizarre fashion as he tried to ride gentle looser from Robinson for a boundary while Pujara was done in by the extra bounce from the god length. 

India were on course for a big total in the second innings after Rohit reached his first Test ton in overseas Tests while Pujara played with a positive attitude to go past the 50-run mark.

The game is nicely poised with Anderson and Robinson hopping the new ball around and testing Kohli around his off stump. India have once promoted Ravindra Jadeja over Ajinkya Rahane at number five.

Rohit Sharma scored his first century in an overseas Test. He smashed Moeen Ali over long-on in the afternoon session of the third day to reach the marquee landmark.

He has been the best Indian batsman so far in the series against England and it was only fitting that his century is setting up the game for the tourists.

He smashed 12 fours and one six to reach the three-figure mark.

Continuing on his good form in the series, Rohit Sharma brought up another fifty of the series to guide India past England’s lead of 99 runs. He has batted with immaculate precision around off stump and has shown restraint in playing aggressive shots to deny England pacers opportunity on the third day.

Meanwhile, Pujara has twisted his ankle and was in horrible pain. However, the number three continued to bat and feasted on run-scoring opportunities presented by England pacers, especially Craig Overton.

In desperation to desperate the Indian openers, as they batted beautifully to bring India closer to the 99-run mark, England went back to their talisman James Anderson, and the pacer did not disappoint his team. 

He produced a perfect ball in the channel outside off stump and Rahul could not help himself but play at it and England got the wicket after challenging in the on-field call.

Leading India’s reply to the big lead of 99 runs, India were off to a brilliant start as the openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul stitched yet another 50-run partnership early on the third day of the Test.

England started the day with James Anderson and Chris Woakes in tandem and the openers were watchful in the first few overs of the day.

The duo has halved the deficit under 50 runs and India would be hoping that the duo will continue batting with discipline and periodic brilliant shots.