In the ongoing fourth Test match between England and India at Old Trafford, Manchester, the third day was challenging for the Indian team. England ended the day with a score of 544/7, while India is left to chase 186 runs, standing at 358 runs. Joe Root played a magnificent innings, scoring 150 runs, while Ben Stokes is unbeaten on 77.
The Indian bowlers faced difficulties, with pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj experiencing discomfort in their left ankles. The team showcased a lackluster performance, struggling with their bowling tactics. Washington Sundar provided some relief by taking two crucial wickets, dismissing Ollie Pope and Harry Brook. However, it wasn’t enough to shift the momentum in India’s favor.
There was a notable absence of effective bowling strategy. India delayed taking the second new ball and faced difficulties with their pace bowling options. The team missed the opportunity to utilize Kuldeep Yadav, who remained on the sidelines, reflecting a gap in the match strategy that could have enhanced their wicket-taking chances.
Despite the sunshine over Old Trafford, India’s body language was indicative of their struggles throughout the day. Substitutes Karun Nair and Abhimanyu Easwaran were seen coming in and out of the field as the primary bowlers grappled with their rhythm. The support from the bench and attempts to maintain team morale, including Arshdeep Singh’s encouragement during drinks duties, fell flat as the team’s performance did not meet expectations.
Overall, the day highlighted the need for India to reassess their approach in order to regain control of the match, especially with the final two days ahead. A careful examination of strategies and maximizing the talent available could provide India with the edge they require to make a comeback in this Test.
In a hopeful outlook, if the Indian team can regroup and recalibrate their tactics quickly, they may still have a chance to turn things around in the remaining days of the Test.