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THE TIMES OF INDIA | Feb 15, 2024, 09:29:16 IST
India will need to be ruthless and tactful in equal measure while dealing with an unpredictable England when the third chapter of a riveting Test series begins today. After England shocked India in the series opener at Hyderabad, the hosts came back strong in Vizag to get on level footing, leaving the five-match series perfectly poised.Read Less
We are all set to start the 3rd Test!
Ben Stokes, the captain of England says that he would have batted first as well. Adds that yes, time flies given it is his 100th Test match and he wants to have fun. Mentions that they are happy with how things have gone in the first two Tests and the boys have done well. On the trip to the UAE, he says that they didn't play cricket and rather spent their time with their families. Adds that the great thing about Test matches is that both teams get a chance and they want to continue in the same fashion. Ends by informing that Mark Wood is back in for Shoaib Bashir.
The Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma says that they will bat first. Adds that it looks like a good pitch, surely better than the last two. Tells that Rajkot is known to be a good wicket and it will deteriorate as the game goes on and they want to put the runs on the board. Mentions that someone or the other hand stepped up for them when needed and he is sure that there will be no shortage of excitement in the next three Tests as well. Informs they have made four changes. Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel make their debuts, Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar miss out as Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj come in.
England (Playing XI) - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes (WK), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood (In for Shoaib Bashir), James Anderson.
India (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan (On Test debut, in for Shreyas Iyer), Ravindra Jadeja (In for Axar Patel), Dhruv Jurel (On Test debut, in for KS Bharat) (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj (In for Mukesh Kumar).
TOSS - India have won the toss and they will BAT first.
Over the last one year or so, Rohit's aggressive approach with the bat has not yielded him big scores and the current situation demands the Indian skipper to perhaps contemplate changing gears.
Skipper Rohit Sharma's form with the bat before the eight-day break only added to the growing concern surrounding the Indian batting, which will be without KL Rahul in this game and Virat Kohli for the entirety of the series.
The brilliance of Yashasvi Jaiswal (321 runs) and Jasprit Bumrah (15) allowed India to make a comeback in the series but concerns remain over a misfiring middle-order, which will now be relying on the young talent to deliver the goods.
After England shocked India in the series opener at Hyderabad, the hosts came back strong in Vizag to get on level footing, leaving the five-match series perfectly poised.
India will need to be ruthless and tactful in equal measure while dealing with an unpredictable England when the third chapter of a riveting Test series begins today.
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the third Test in Rajkot.
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