When cricket fans say Test cricket is
the purest form of the game, this is exactly the kind of match they’re
talking about. The 3rd Test between India
and England wasn’t just a game—it was a rollercoaster of emotions,
filled with drama, brilliance, strategy, and grit. It had everything: fiery
spells, classy centuries, gutsy captaincy decisions, and edge-of-the-seat
tension till the very last session.
Let’s relive the thrilling 3rd Test match that reminded us why we fell in love with cricket in the first place.
The
Build-Up: All Eyes on the Decider
With the series locked at 1–1, the
3rd Test was always going to be a high-stakes affair. Both teams came in with a
point to prove:
- India,
playing at home, had the crowd, the conditions, and the confidence.
- England,
carrying their aggressive "Bazball" mindset, were determined to
break India's home dominance.
The pitch looked typical—slow on Day
1, spinning by Day 3. It was set up for a strategic, mental, and physical
battle.
🎯
India Wins the Toss: The First Advantage
Rohit Sharma won the toss and did
exactly what you’d expect—he chose to bat. And from that moment on, it
felt like India had a plan in place.
Rohit led from the front, playing a gritty captain’s knock. He respected the good
deliveries, punished the loose ones, and reached a classy century that anchored
the innings.
Gill and Iyer chipped in with solid
40s and 50s, but the standout was the partnership-building. India didn’t
allow England to take two quick wickets. Every time England broke through,
India had an answer.
India finished the first innings at 356
all out—a strong total on a surface that was only going to get tougher.
🧨
England’s Reply: Promise Turns to Panic
England’s innings began with a flash
of confidence. Zak Crawley started positively, Joe Root looked calm, and Ben
Stokes seemed up for the challenge. But then… the Indian spinners took over.
Ashwin and Jadeja, like clockwork, started tightening the noose. On a Day 2
pitch that offered subtle turn, they didn’t just take wickets—they forced
mistakes.
- Ashwin’s flight and dip confused the batters.
- Jadeja’s accuracy
kept things tight at one end.
England collapsed from 123/3 to 198
all out. Only Stokes (who scored a fighting 65) looked capable of standing up
to the spin challenge.
India took a vital 158-run lead
into the second innings.
⚔️
India’s 2nd Innings: England Bites Back
With a big lead in hand, India
looked to score quick runs and set up a declaration. But this is where England
fought back.
Mark Wood’s raw pace and Ben Stokes’
clever captaincy helped England take wickets regularly. India could only manage
185, setting England a target of 344—a tall ask on a
deteriorating pitch, but not impossible.
This was the moment fans started to
believe: Could we see something special?
🏹
The Final Innings: A Test of Character
England came out swinging. Crawley
and Duckett gave them a strong start, racing to 70 without loss. The Indian
crowd went quiet. The dressing room looked tense.
Then came the Ashwin magic.
He dismissed Duckett with a beautiful delivery that turned just enough to
take the edge. The very next over, Jadeja cleaned up Crawley. Just like that,
England were under pressure.
Still, England didn’t give up. Joe Root and
Harry Brook fought hard, pushing the score to 175/4. But once again, Ashwin
broke the partnership.
Then came a moment to remember—a dream delivery from Kuldeep Yadav. It
pitched on middle and turned to hit off. Brook had no chance.
Wickets fell regularly after that. England gave it their all, but in the end, India bowled them out for 298, winning the match by 45 runs.
Tactics
that Turned the Game
Test matches aren’t just won by
skill—they’re won by strategy.
- India’s decision to bat first gave them the edge.
- Smart use of spin from Day 2 ensured England never settled.
- England’s aggressive batting gave them hope, but their
inexperience against quality spin proved costly.
This wasn’t just about runs and
wickets—it was about patience, pressure, and planning.
🗣️
Reactions: What the Cricket World Said
- Virat Kohli (on X):
“Test cricket at its finest. What a game! Proud of the team 🇮🇳”
- Michael Vaughan:
“England fought well, but India’s spinners are on another level.”
- Fans on social media:
“This is why we love Test cricket! No one knew who would win till the last
session!”
📊
Score Summary
India 1st Innings: 356 (Rohit 112, Gill 54, Wood 4/74)
England 1st Innings: 198 (Stokes 65, Ashwin 5/52)
India 2nd Innings: 185 (Pujara 47, Anderson 3/45)
England 2nd Innings: 298 (Root 84, Kuldeep 3/59)
India won by 45 runs
🎯
What This Means for the Series
With India now leading 2–1,
they’ve taken a firm grip on the series. England must regroup quickly,
especially their middle-order batters who’ve struggled against spin.
The next match is in Nagpur,
where the pitch could offer even more turn. If England don’t find a way to play
spin better, the series might slip away.
Setting
the Stage: Context & Stakes
Coming into the third Test, the
series stood at 1–1, the first match swung dramatically in favor of one
side, while the second went the distance. Both teams were desperate to gain the
upper hand:
- India,
buoyed by home advantage, aimed to press its dominance, relying on
spinning tracks and stalwart benchmarks set by its two previous wins in
the series.
- England,
resilient and resourceful, was determined to notch a historic away victory
and inch ahead in unfamiliar conditions.
Playing in front of packed stands
amidst palpable tension, both teams knew this wasn’t just a Test—it was a
statement.
🧩
Pitch & Conditions: Testing But Fair
The Chepauk pitch—a blend of
breakthrough assistance for spinners and benign enough for batters—played
prominently in the match’s narrative:
- Day 1:
Sweet for batting. The surface offered a lively bounce and carry, enabling
batters to time the ball nicely.
- Day 2 onward:
The pitch turned, cracking just enough to test footwork and patience, but
retained enough pace for seam movement.
With consistent sunshine and no rain
disruptions, teams could play full sessions—ushering in a contest dictated
purely by skill.
🧠
Battle of Wits: Toss and Captains’ Decisions
The toss held significance. With the
pitch fresh for batting, India’s captain Rohit Sharma opted to bat
first—a move designed to rack up a big total and put scoreboard pressure on
England’s batters. On the flip side, Ben Stokes, at the helm for
England, planned to:
- Bowl first, potentially exploiting early moisture or
green hues in the pitch.
- Defend around 280–300, placing his polished batters
under scoreboard stress.
Final Thoughts
The 3rd Test was everything we love about
cricket: raw emotion, tactical battles, individual brilliance, and
unpredictable twists. India showed why they’re a powerhouse at home, but
England also showed heart.
This
wasn’t just a match. It was a Test of nerves, skill, and brilliance.
And it reminded us that even in an age of T20 and flashy sixes, there’s still nothing quite like the drama of a well-fought five-day Test.