India on top in the 3rd Test, finish Day 1 on 99/3 after bowling England out for 112 in Ahmedabad

[MenInG]

It is all to play for in the third Test, with both teams well aware a defeat here will end their hopes of making the ICC World Test Championship final.

Overview

India v England, 3rd Test
Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad
24-28 February, 2:30pm local time

And what a venue to house to this pivotal clash.

Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel Stadium will host its first international match since being reconstructed as the world’s biggest cricket venue, boasting a capacity of 110,000. While it will be at reduced capacity for the match, it looms as the perfect venue for the two Tests which will ultimately decide who joins New Zealand in the decider later this year.

For England, this match is all or nothing. They must win this Test and the following one. Only a 3-1 series win can see them go through to the final.

For India, a defeat here would end their hopes of winning the series and of making the WTC final. They must finish this series as victors to reach the decider.

A draw would see England's chances dashed but India's dreams still alive, heading into the final Test.

ICC WTC StandingsICC WTC Standings
Last time out, India defeated England by 317 runs, riding an all-star performance from Ravichandran Ashwin (5/43, 3/53 and 106) and a century from Rohit Sharma (161) to a series-levelling victory.

It was a match dominated by the spinners and while they will likely again play a big role in the third Test, England will be hoping a shift to day-night cricket and the pink ball offers their seamers more assistance.

History suggests that should be the case. Across the 15 men’s day-night Tests played so far, seamers have taken 354 wickets at an average of 24.47, while spinners have taken 115 at 35.38. The lone day-night Test that has been played in India so far, in 2019 between the hosts and Bangladesh, saw 27 wickets fall to seam and only one to spin.

Who will join New Zealand in the WTC final?Who will join New Zealand in the WTC final?
Nevertheless, it would be unwise to expect anything but another star showing from Ashwin. He has 17 wickets at 17.82 so far this series, and shone with the pink ball in Australia recently, taking 4/55 in the first innings at Adelaide Oval.

Indeed, India’s bowlers have enjoyed themselves whenever they have used the pink ball. Ishant Sharma averages 8.66 with it, Ashwin 18.00, and the fit-again Umesh Yadav 15.54. Jasprit Bumrah’s lone day-night outing, in Adelaide, has his average sitting at 39.50 but you can expect that number to improve sooner rather than later.

In the opposite corner, James Anderson looms as the key man in England’s attack. He averages 17.85 with the pink ball. He has also been in serious form this year, taking 11 wickets at 9.90. Both matches he has played in 2021 have been in Asia.

If Jofra Archer recovers from the elbow injury that ruled him out of the second Test, then expect him to enjoy himself too.

Look out for

Virat Kohli: It has been more than a year since Kohli last scored a Test century – a period in which he has only played five matches in fairness – but he has not been too far off posting a score of serious note and he just might be due in Ahmedabad.

The Indian captain’s 62 in the second innings of the second Test was a serious display of batting in turning conditions, and there was plenty to like in his 72 in the first Test. Before that, he looked on course for a century at Adelaide Oval against Australia, easing his way to 74 before a horror mix-up saw him run out.

Ominously for England, his last century came in India’s first day-night Test and he averages 71.33 against the pink ball.

Joe Root: Like his opposite number, Root shapes as the key man in England’s batting order against the pink ball. The England captain enjoyed his first outing under lights against the West Indies, scoring a century in 2017. While he hasn’t climbed such lofty heights since, he has managed a 50+ score in each of his two day-night Tests since then.

Putting the pink ball aside, he shapes as the form Test batsman in the world alongside Kane Williamson. The last match, where he made scores of 6 and 33, ended a run of three Tests with 150+ innings.

Remember the last time

Bar the opening session on day one, India dominated the second Test at Chennai, finishing as comfortable and deserved 317-run winners.

The foundations of that victory were laid by a 162-run stand between Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane that took India from 3-86 to a total of 329. Sharma scored a brilliant 161 off 231 and Rahane a classy 67 before Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 58 put the hosts firmly in the driver’s seat.

A five-wicket haul from Ashwin (5/43) then saw England rolled for 134 in their first innings. He then put to bed any hopes the tourists had of victory, scoring a second-innings century (106) and enjoying a 96-run stand with Kohli to put India out of sight.

Debutant Axar Patel rounded out a perfect Test for India, taking 5/60 to bowl England out for 164 despite an entertaining 43 off 18 from Moeen Ali.

Squads

India: Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), Axar Patel, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav

England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

==

Please can all posters take note of the following guidelines for match threads on PakPassion:

1. No personal insults at other posters, players, officials, coaching staff etc

2. No making fun of player's, officials, coaching staff's names.

3. Do not add any references to media, their social media or post any pictures or screenshots from other sports websites.

4. Stick to commenting on this match. There is no need to bring other countries into the match discussion as there are plenty of other threads where those discussions can be added.

5. Report abuse - if you see any post which is inappropriate, report it, do not respond to it.

[Napa]

Game is going to be played bang in the middle of the night for me. Have to decide if I should go to sleep early or wake up early

[Ab Fan]

Game is going to be played bang in the middle of the night for me. Have to decide if I should go to sleep early or wake up early

If you don't mind asking me, where do you live?

[Ab Fan]

I think India should go with:-

Rohit
Gill
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Pant
Axar
Ashwin
Yadav
Ishant
Bumrah

Since there is enough for spinners too, Ashwin and Axar will be handy too.

[JattMaula]

I think India should go with:-

Rohit
Gill
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Pant
Axar
Ashwin
Yadav
Ishant
Bumrah

Since there is enough for spinners too, Ashwin and Axar will be handy too.

Most likely squad.

[Mahee]

if you don't mind asking me, where do you live?

usa

[Mesozoic]

I think India should go with:-

Rohit
Gill
Pujara
Kohli
Rahane
Pant
Axar
Ashwin
Yadav
Ishant
Bumrah

Since there is enough for spinners too, Ashwin and Axar will be handy too.

Siraj for Umesh and that'd be my team as well.

[Napa]

If you don't mind asking me, where do you live?

West Coast USA. Game starts at 1 AM for me.

[Napa]

Siraj for Umesh and that'd be my team as well.

Siraj got only 1 wicket in the 2nd Test, but bowled only 8 overs for 11 runs which I thought was very good.

Pity Shardul Thakur was not included. He was India's leading wicket taker with 7 wickets and also scored 64 in the 1st innings.

[Ab Fan]

Siraj for Umesh and that'd be my team as well.

I won't mind that either. But if Umesh is fully fit, I will pick him ahead of Siraj. He was brilliant in last pink ball test too.

[Ab Fan]

West Coast USA. Game starts at 1 AM for me.

Then I guess you are used too of night shifts when watching subcontinent matches. Just wondering how you gonna cope in 2023 WC final if India plays

[Mesozoic]

Siraj got only 1 wicket in the 2nd Test, but bowled only 8 overs for 11 runs which I thought was very good.

Yeah he bowled well last game. Should play ahead of umesh even if the latter's fully fit.

[King_Kohli]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Motera in all readiness ��<br><br>Just a few hours left for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PinkBallTest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pi nkBallTest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvENG </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Paytm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Paytm</a><br><br>ARE YOU READY ������ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamI ndia</a> <a href="https://t.co/EdyGsLlQws">pic.twitter.com/EdyGsLlQws</a></p>&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1364459999062200321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Hyperion66]

It is a difficult decision to make between Umesh and Siraj. Umesh has been performing tremendously at home for sometime, has got both conventional and reverse swing and can produce freakish spells out of nowhere while Siraj brings the consistency, discipline and accuracy to the table.

[King_Kohli]

It is a difficult decision to make between Umesh and Siraj. Umesh has been performing tremendously at home for sometime, has got both conventional and reverse swing and can produce freakish spells out of nowhere while Siraj brings the consistency, discipline and accuracy to the table.

I will pick Umesh, he is brilliant with SG ball.

[Bilal7]

This is a beautiful stadium and the largest in the world. India should use it at their premier cricket ground moving forward. Eden Gardens has run its course.

This is going to be another crucial toss, especially for England.

[Devadwal]

It's officially Narendra Modi stadium

[Devadwal]

Sardar Patel Stadium renamed to Narendra Modi Stadium ahead of the pink-ball Test.
https://t.co/dI6OwrlmpS

[Napa]

Yeah he bowled well last game. Should play ahead of umesh even if the latter's fully fit.

Embarrassment of riches.

[Umesh] has been particularly devastating at home since 2018, averaging 13.86 with 38 wickets in seven games. His average and strike rate (24.3) in that period are the best in India of any bowler, given a minimum of three Tests played.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/i...hazare-1252631

Hard to leave Umesh out given his home record.

[Devadwal]

This is a beautiful stadium and the largest in the world. India should use it at their premier cricket ground moving forward. Eden Gardens has run its course.

This is going to be another crucial toss, especially for England.

Now whenever India host ICC event then mostly likely final will also take place in this stadium.imagine India - Pakistan final at this venue .just unbelievable

[Napa]

Then I guess you are used too of night shifts when watching subcontinent matches. Just wondering how you gonna cope in 2023 WC final if India plays

I will just have to do it, and work and family will have to adjust

[Last Monetarist]

England win toss and bat.

Crawley, Bairstow, Archer, and Anderson in.

Burns, Lawrence, Moeen, and Stone out.

[Devadwal]

England win the toss & bat first .very good chance for England to win a test match

[Devadwal]

England vs Virat in last 11 test - 10 toss win by England

[Manunited18]

Come on england

[Hasan123]

England batting first.

[Devadwal]

England playing 3 Pacers along with stokes but India playing three spinners .

[Hasan123]

India playing 3 spinners, England playing 3 pacers lol.

[sindhiboy]

Eng get the toss advantage, but they have a long tail with Archer at no. 8

Would have replaced Archer with bess

[James]

Brilliant toss for England to win.

[Markhor]

Too much talk about the pink ball. CricViz showed the new pink ball swings more than the new red ball, but then does less than the red once it gets old.

Suspect the bigger issue is one of visibility.

[OldWarHorse]

This is a strong team England have put out. WTC Finals is at stake. Exciting few days coming up

[MenInG]

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

England (Playing XI): Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root(c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes(w), Jofra Archer, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, James Anderson


England have won the toss and have opted to bat

[Raja111]

Kohli as usual lost the toss
He has lost 11 tosses against England in the last 13 tests winning only 2.

[King_Kohli]

Washington Sundar why?
Playing with two pacers lol

[Napa]

I won't mind that either. But if Umesh is fully fit, I will pick him ahead of Siraj. He was brilliant in last pink ball test too.

It is a difficult decision to make between Umesh and Siraj. Umesh has been performing tremendously at home for sometime, has got both conventional and reverse swing and can produce freakish spells out of nowhere while Siraj brings the consistency, discipline and accuracy to the table.

Seems like both Umesh and Siraj are out, bummer!

Pandya may have been the way to go. He is rested and can produce best batting or bowling figures.

Washington Sundar why?
Playing with two pacers lol

Sundar was chosen for his batting. Pandya would have been better.

[Babar_Azam_fan]

Weird team compositions

England 4 pacers
India 2 pacers

India 3 spinners
England 1 spinner

And to make it worse India is batting 2nd and 4th. Don't know which team misread the pitch

[IAJ]

What a stadium!

[King_Kohli]

Weird team compositions

England 4 pacers
India 2 pacers

India 3 spinners
England 1 spinner

And to make it worse India is batting 2nd and 4th. Don't know which team misread the pitch

True.

[Kaptan]

That bounce :o

[jeeteshssaxena]

Both the teams have read the pitch differently.
One is going with 4 pacers other is going with only two.
Actually i think India should have chosen a fast bowler above one of the spinner.

Chalo atleast we have a long batting lineup.

[Robert]

A remade England top order. Stronger looking side.

[shortbread]

Bounce...... Anderson, Broad, Archer....licking lips!

[shortbread]

India has such a terrible keeper

[jeeteshssaxena]

All hoopla about pace bowling under lights and Kohli goes with three spinners, if this goes well it will be a masterstroke otherwise he will be heavily criticised.

[dravidthewall]

Nothing for facer

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

I thought Hardik was picked in the squad for Pink Ball test?

[Ab Fan]

Rishabh Pant is such a great batsman.

[Devadwal]

Lol india misread pitch .

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Rishabh Pant is such a great batsman.

Yeah even when he is not batting.

[Ab Fan]

Kohli will always pick Axar or Jadeja alongside Ashwin. That is confirmed now.

[ex-q-zit]

Seems like both Umesh and Siraj are out, bummer!

Pandya may have been the way to go. He is rested and can produce best batting or bowling figures.



Sundar was chosen for his batting. Pandya would have been better.

Pandya has been chosen as a specialist batsman for this tour. His back isn't fully ready for him to bowl long spells which is a requirement in tests.

[Ab Fan]

Ishant strikes with sun out in a hot weather.

[jeeteshssaxena]

The GOAT strikes.!

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Seems like both Umesh and Siraj are out, bummer!

Pandya may have been the way to go. He is rested and can produce best batting or bowling figures.



Sundar was chosen for his batting. Pandya would have been better.

Team management doesn't rate him highly. Them not selecting him in Pink Ball test proves it.

[Devadwal]

Ishant strike

[Devadwal]

Team management doesn't rate him highly. Them not selecting him in Pink Ball test proves it.

If he ready to Bowl then he will Play otherwise no

[Hyperion66]

Ishant takes Sibley!!

[Kaptan]

This bounce is giving me heart attack. looks like Kohli misread the pitch.

[Markhor]

Ishant on the money with that line and length. There will be exaggerated movement with the new pink, but it does get easier.

England must survive these first 15 overs.

[Devadwal]

Only 2 slips??

[ex-q-zit]

Team management doesn't rate him highly. Them not selecting him in Pink Ball test proves it.

Pandya has been chosen as a specialist batsman for this tour. His back isn't fully ready for him to bowl long spells which is a requirement in tests. So playing Pandya instead of rahane or kohli or pujara was out of the picture.

[Devadwal]

My god too much swing but we only have 2 fast bowlers

[Ab Fan]

Excellent keeping from Rishabh Pant. He is Mr.360 now. He can do everything.

[Markhor]

6mm of grass was left on the Kolkata pitch in the day-nighter vs Bangladesh.

Not sure how much grass has been left here but you need a decent covering to protect the pink ball.

[jeeteshssaxena]

Excellent keeping from Rishabh Pant. He is Mr.360 now. He can do everything.

Bach gaye, no edge

[dravidthewall]

Lol in australia indian C side were looks like world beaters , but now in india with full strength they looks like loosing .

[Markhor]

England must take advantage whenever the seamers are overpitching trying to maximise swing. Hopefully these boundaries will settle the nerves.

[Rajdeep]

Amit Shah is in the stadium overseeing things. We have got this game covered guys

[OldWarHorse]

Rohit's slip catching will serve more purpose than his batting this test

[Rajdeep]

Both the seamers looking for swing, pitching it up and getting hit for boundaries. Need to bowl that nagging length.

[Markhor]

Crawley looking good.

He went to Mumbai a few years ago at his own expense to improve his game against spin. A very determined character, unlucky to have missed out on the first 2 Tests with injury.

[dravidthewall]

runs flowing

[dravidthewall]

Time to unleash ashwin

[Markhor]

Nice flick of the wrists.

[MP2011]

Crawley is being allowed to score too many runs!

[Ab Fan]

Crawley channelling out his 267 inning he played Vs Pakistan.

[Rajdeep]

Out but reviewed

[MP2011]

Johnny given out LBW, he reviews it.

[Kaptan]

Its out. No bat involved