India v England, third Test, day one as it happened – Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja centuries leave hosts on top
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Updated 15/02/2024 at 11:51 GMT
Re-live our live text coverage of the third Test between India and England at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. England captain Ben Stokes leads the team once more in his 100th Test match, with the 32-year-old no doubt desperate to make a huge impact with the series tied at 1-1. You can watch all of the action from the third Test live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
England bowler Mark Wood celebrates with team mates after taking the wicket of Rohit Sharma during day one of the 3rd Test Match between India and England at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium on February 15, 2024 in Rajkot, India
Image credit: Getty Images
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The story of the first day
India close on 326/5; Rohit Sharma (131) and Ravindra Jadeja (110*) hit tons; Wood takes 3-69
Rajkot served up a classic day of Test cricket, with India closing on 326/5 after day one and in a dominant position on a surface that looks excellent for batting.
Mark Wood was the star of the day for England, taking a brace of early wickets as India slumped to 33-3. And Wood finished with figures of 3-69 along with a brilliant run out.
But centuries from Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, aided by a fiery half-century from debutant Sarfaraz Khan, mean that India are well-placed to control this Test, with the series tied at one apiece.
India made four changes to their XI and opted to bat first after winning the toss, but it was England who enjoyed the dream start, picking up three wickets in the first hour of play on a decent batting surface.
Mark Wood, returning to the XI, took his first wickets of the series, removing both Yashasvi Jaiswal (10) and Shubman Gill (0) in an outstanding spell of fast bowling that left the home side reeling.
Both Wood and Anderson were excellent with the new ball, but the third wicket fell to the first over of spin in the day, as Rajat Patidar (5) chipped a simple catch to Ben Duckett off Tom Hartley.
At 33-3 England were well on top on a surface that looked perfectly suited to provide a big first innings score, but a dropped catch by Joe Root and an overturned LBW decision for an inside edge gave Rohit Sharma two early reprieves, and he helped make England pay.
With Ravindra Jadeja promoted to number five, India rebuilt through until lunch and then made England toil through a wicketless afternoon session as runs flowed on a wicket that offered little for the spinners, with Rohit and Jadeja putting on a partnership worth more than 200.
Rohit brought up his 11th Test century just after tea, but did eventually depart as he miscued a catch to Ben Stokes off Wood for 131.
But that brought debutant Sarfaraz Khan to the crease, and he lived up to his billing with a fiery first innings in Test cricket. Sarfaraz has a superb domestic record and has long been tipped for the Indian side, and he tucked into a tiring England in the final session of the day, scoring at a rapid pace.
Sarfaraz looked on for a century of his own, but was run out with Jadeja on 99 as the pair looked for a quick single, with Wood hitting the stumps with a brilliant direct throw.
Sarfaraz could barely hide his disappointment, and neither could a furious Rohit up in the stands, with the debutant departing for 62 from 66 balls.
But Jadeja did bring his fifth Test century in the same over, and finish the day unbeaten on 110 after a knock that has helped put the hosts in a strong position in Rajkot.
England gave up a sizeable first-innings deficit in each of the first two Test of the series, needing a miracle to win the series opener and failing to pull off a similarly unlikely comeback in the second Test.
And Stokes’ side face an uphill challenge if they are to get back to parity in this game, especially on a surface that will almost certainly break up in the back half of the Test.
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- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s white ball tour (3 x ODIs and 5 x T20s) of India in January-February 2025
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s tour of India, currently scheduled for January-February 2028.
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STUMPS: India 326-5 (Jadeja 110, Kuldeep 1) Overs: 87
Anderson, with the new ball in his hand, bowls the final over of the day with the nightwatchman Kuldeep on strike.
The batter looks for a two but can’t make it back, exposing Jadeja at the end of the day, which wasn’t the plan at all.
But Jadeja flicks Anderson away for four and then blocks out the last ball to finish the day safely.
India 321-5 (Jadeja 106, Kuldeep 0) Overs: 85
Root takes the new ball from the other end, and a misfield from Bairstow means the first ball of the over runs away for four.
Bairstow has been really struggling in the field in this series and Stokes shakes his head in frustration. It’s clear that Bairstow’s recovery from his broken leg continues to cause him some mobility problems, which is something to keep an eye on down the line in terms of whether he’s even an option to take the gloves in the English summer.
The camera pans to Sarfaraz up in the stands, who is still dwelling on the frustration of that run-out. He looked on course for a ton on debut and will be kicking himself for trying so hard to help out Jadeja.
India 315-5 (Jadeja 100, Kuldeep 0) Overs: 84
Here we go, it’s new ball time! England have given themselves a couple of overs with the fresh cherry at the end of the day, but leaving it late enough that the ball will still be new when they return in the morning.
Anderson takes it and he cuts Kuldeep in half first up. This is going to be a tester for the nightwatchman.
It’s an outstanding over from Anderson and a maiden.
India 315-5 (Jadeja 100, Kuldeep 0) Overs: 83
Hartley gets a go as England delay the new ball a bit longer. It’s a maiden for the spinner.
CENTURY AND WICKET! India 315-5 (Jadeja 100, Kuldeep 0) Overs: 82
Sarfaraz Khan run out by Mark Wood for 62 (66b)
Ravindra Jadeja 100* from 198 balls
Finally some runs for Jadeja as he moves on to 98, knocking Anderson into the gap in the off side.
There’s a hint of a run-out chance as Sarfaraz dives into his ground after a quick single as Crawley throws well off target, but his sprawling effort means there’s no chance for a second on the overthrow and Jadeja will have to wait for his ton.
But oh my, he's gone this time! Looking for the quick single, Sarfaraz is sent back and is run out by a direct hit from Wood. That’s a brilliant run-out in truth, but it’s a tough way for the debutant to lose his wicket after a brilliant 62 from 66 balls.
Rohit slams his cap in frustration in the dugout – that’s a terrible time to lose a wicket from India’s perspective.
Kuldeep Yadav is the new batter, sent in as a nightwatchman, and he trots through for a single as Jadeja knocks one into the leg side to bring up a hard-fought century.
It’s been an important knock for India and he celebrates with his trademark sword swipe, but it’s an overall muted celebration as he regrets his part in running out Sarfaraz.
India 310-4 (Jadeja 96, Sarfaraz 61) Overs: 81
Wood is given an over with the old ball as England look to bounce out Sarfaraz. It’s a maiden.
There’s a long discussion between Stokes and his two quick bowlers about what to do with the second new ball. They decide to stick with the old one for now, potentially to ensure that they’ve got something fresh to work with on the second morning maybe.
India 310-4 (Jadeja 96, Sarfaraz 61) Overs: 80
Anderson goes again. Will England take the new ball in an over’s time? For now it’s Anderson with the old one, and he has a marooned Jadeja on strike.
It’s a really nice over and a maiden.
Jadeja has been given a final warning for running down the pitch.
India 310-4 (Jadeja 96, Sarfaraz 61) Overs: 79
Hartley rips one past the outside edge that Foakes doesn’t take cleanly. That one puffed a bit when it hit the surface, and later in this Test you’re going to get this pitch doing plenty. England’s challenge now will be to somehow avoid a big first-innings deficit.
Another one-bounce four down the ground keeps Sarfaraz motoring along.
The partnership is worth 73 runs. Sarfaraz has 61 of them.
India 306-4 (Jadeja 96, Sarfaraz 57) Overs: 78
England turn to Anderson to try and stem the flow of runs.
His first delivery is knocked away for a couple as Safaraz edges down the track to England’s veteran, and that brings up the 300 for India.
India are in the position of control that they would have expected to be in at this stage of the day after winning the toss, but it’s been an excellent recovery after that wicket-fuelled start to the day.
Foakes is standing up to Anderson, but Sarfaraz has the bowler stewing as a late cut rushes away for four.
FIFTY! India 299-4 (Jadeja 96, Sarfaraz 50) Overs: 77
There has been a lot of hype about Sarfaraz thanks to his outstanding domestic record, and it’s not hard to see why. He belts Hartley down the ground for a maximum and is threatening to take this innings away from England at the moment.
He knocks Hartley for a single off the pads, bringing up a half-century off just 48 balls. It’s a debut to remember so far.
India 291-4 (Jadeja 95, Sarfaraz 43) Overs: 76
Barely time to catch breath as England race towards the new ball and Sarfaraz takes advantage by plundering runs from the spinners while he can.
Six runs come off the latest Root over, including a hammer slog-sweep to the rope from the debutant.
India enjoy an unscheduled drink, which the umpires aren't too happy about. The reserve fielders are ushered from the field to minimise the delay.
India 285-4 (Jadeja 94, Sarfaraz 38) Overs: 75
It’s another four for Sarfaraz, who is motoring along. This one is a cracked drive back over Hartley’s head.
And he pulls hard to the boundary for another. He’s going along at just shy of a run-a-ball here – Bazball eat your heart out!
India 276-4 (Jadeja 94, Sarfaraz 29) Overs: 74
Sarfaraz isn’t going to hang about here and leathers a sweep to the boundary off Root.
India 269-4 (Jadeja 93, Sarfaraz 23) Overs: 73
Hartley goes for four singles in an over that finishes with a half-hearted appeal for an lbw against Jadeja.
Replays show that would have been plumb, all three reds. But was there a slight inside edge? Stokes will hope so, otherwise that was a howling decision not to review.
India 265-4 (Jadeja 91, Sarfaraz 21) Overs: 72
Frustration for England as Sarfaraz takes on the ploy and top edges Root over the fielder behind square, with the ball landing safely and running away for four.
India 259-4 (Jadeja 90, Sarfaraz 16) Overs: 71
England are speeding through their overs now and Hartley races through another, going for one single.
India 258-4 (Jadeja 90, Sarfaraz 15) Overs: 70
Sarfaraz smashes Root to the midwicket boundary for a fierce four.
Five runs come from the over and this pair are starting to motor.
India 252-4 (Jadeja 90, Sarfaraz 9) Overs: 69
It’s a first boundary of Sarfaraz’s career as he steers Rehan behind square for four. England will be keen to not let the debutant settle – he scores quickly when he gets going and will be keen to grasp this Test opportunity now that he’s finally got it.
India 246-4 (Jadeja 89, Sarfaraz 4) Overs: 68
Spin from both ends now, with Wood getting a breather. It’s been pretty slow today, so we’ll get the extra half hour later on, and you would imagine England will take the second new ball, which is 13 overs away.
Root gets his first ball to grip and turn, which has Jadeja blinking from beneath his cap.
It’s a decent over from Root, which goes for two runs.
India 244-4 (Jadeja 87, Sarfaraz 4) Overs: 67
There haven’t been many gremlins in the pitch today, but one keeps pretty low off Rehan and Sarfaraz does well to dig it out.
Two runs come from the over.
India 242-4 (Jadeja 86, Sarfaraz 3) Overs: 66
It’s been a pretty long spell for Wood, but the wicket in the last over has persuaded Stokes to give him another.
A misfield from Bairstow gifts Sarfaraz his first runs in Test cricket. But Wood almost gets a wicket at the back end of the over as Jadeja miscues a pull just short of Pope in the ring.
Stokes gives Wood a big pat of appreciation for his efforts in this spell. It’s been hard work for the speedster.
India 238-4 (Jadeja 85, Sarfaraz 0) Overs: 65
Sarfaraz goes for a big sweep off Rehan and misses, with Foakes whipping off the bails. But he managed to stay in his ground despite toppling off balance.
WICKET! India 237-4 (Jadeja 84, Sarfaraz 0) Overs: 64
Rohit Sharma caught by Ben Stokes bowled Mark Wood for 131 (196b)
The relief is palpable as Rohit shanks a catch into the ring off Wood. It’s a simple catch for Stokes who celebrates with a roar. The India captain departs for 131 and England finally have the breakthrough they were desperately striving for.
Credit to Rohit, he gave some chances but played brilliantly overall and has set his side up well.
Sarfaraz Khan is the new batter on his Test debut. Sarfaraz has a remarkable domestic record but has had to bide his time for a chance in the Test team.
Wood’s plan against Sarfaraz is pretty clear, and he targets him with a bumper first up.
India 235-3 (Rohit 130, Jadeja 83) Overs: 63
The 200-run partnership comes up with a four off Rehan.
Rohit and Jadeja have saved India here. They were in massive trouble at 33-3 on a surface that demanded a big first innings score, but this pair have ensured that the home side will be in a decent position at the end of the first day whatever happens from here.
India 230-3 (Rohit 125, Jadeja 83) Overs: 62
India are dominant and Jadeja finishes Wood’s latest over with a dismissive pull for four. This pitch is looking like an absolute dream for batting right now.
India 224-3 (Rohit 124, Jadeja 78) Overs: 61
Runs are really flowing now for India and England are crying out for a breakthrough.
Rehan drags one down and is hammered for a maximum, and Rohit adds a pull for four at the end of a ten-run over.
This partnership is beginning to take the match away from England.
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India 214-3 (Rohit 114, Jadeja 78) Overs: 60
It’s time for some pace from Wood.
Stokes has his hands on his head and Wood is grimacing as Jadeja fails to control a cramped pull shot that has just enough on it to clear the two fielders in the deep on the leg side, flying all the way for six.
He must have thought he was done for there, but the partnership continues.
India 206-3 (Rohit 113, Jadeja 72) Overs: 59
It’s another let-off for Rohit, who top-edges a slog sweep off Rehan, but sees the ball drop short of the on-rushing Crawley.
India 204-3 (Rohit 112, Jadeja 71) Overs: 58
There’s a bit of a scare for India as the batters pause taking a quick single and dash through just in time.
And the unusual over continues as Anderson loses the ball in his delivery arc, with the ball slipping out and ending up behind him. He apologises to Rohit, and there’s a few smiles out there. You don’t see that very often!
India 202-3 (Rohit 111, Jadeja 70) Overs: 57
Rehan continues to strive for a breakthrough, but there’s not much on offer from the pitch right now, and India take a couple of singles off the over.
India 200-3 (Rohit 110, Jadeja 69) Overs: 56
England have a very odd field to Jadeja, with two catches in at short midwicket. But the left-hander gets off strike thanks to a rare error from Foakes, who fails to take a ball that bounces just in front of him and squirts away for a single.
Five runs come from Anderson’s over, with Rohit whipping one off his legs to the rope, and that brings up the 200 for India. It’s been a hugely impressive recovery from the home team.
India 195-3 (Rohit 106, Jadeja 69) Overs: 55
Two singles come from Rehan’s latest over.
It’s all very comfortable for India right now, and this session is going to be crucial. A big first-innings score from India will put England under a lot of pressure, but a wicket here would get the tourists into the inexperienced Indian middle-order.
India 193-3 (Rohit 105, Jadeja 68) Overs: 54
Anderson returns to the attack. He’s bowled really nicely today but has gone wicketless so far.
He appeals for lbw against Rohit and Stokes takes a punt with the review. It does hit the pad before bat, but it’s outside the line so Rohit survives. That looked a bit high maybe too. England lose a review.
Three runs come from the over as India roll on.
CENTURY! India 190-3 (Rohit 102, Jadeja 68) Overs: 53
Rohit Sharma 101* from 157 balls
It’s a century for India’s captain, the 11th of his Test career and a third against England. He struggled early on today, but has been dominant since lunch, and that’s a significant contribution for his team just when they needed him.
The crowd are on their feet and applauding, as the evening session begins in style.
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TNT Sports is the new official broadcast home of England men’s tours of India in 2024, 2025 and 2028.
TNT Sports has also agreed a deal to show exclusive live coverage of every red-ball and white-ball international series played in India for the next five years.
The new agreement means:
- England’s five-Test tour of India will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s white ball tour (3 x ODIs and 5 x T20s) of India in January-February 2025
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s tour of India, currently scheduled for January-February 2028.
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The story of the day so far
150-partnership steadies ship for India after England’s superb start
The afternoon session was dominated by India, with no wickets falling and the partnership between Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja going beyond 150.
The India skipper will resume after tea just three runs short of his century, with Jadeja also building yet another decent score on his return from injury.
Rohit’s big knock will be a frustration for England after they almost had him twice in the morning session, with Joe Root putting down a chance off Tom Hartley at first slip and Rohit successfully reviewing for a thin inside edge after being given out lbw off James Anderson.
But India are well on their way to a decent first-innings score having won the toss and chosen to bat first on a surface that looks very friendly for the batters.
Earlier it was England who made the running, enjoying a sensational first hour as Anderson and Mark Wood bowled brilliantly with the new ball.
Anderson’s efforts went without reward, but Wood picked up his first wickets of the series, removing both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill in a stunning spell.
And Rajat Patidar became the third wicket to fall, clipping Tom Hartley straight to the fielder in the ring to leave India under big pressure.
But, with the exciting Sarfaraz Khan still to come in a strong batting line-up, India have recovered to a decent position with one session still to play on this opening day in Rajkot.
TEA: India 185-3 (Rohit 97, Jadeja 68) Overs: 52
Root drags one down and Jadeja pumps it away for six. That’s the 150 partnership, comfortably the biggest by either side in this series, and India are building the sort of total that they would have been hoping for on this decent batting surface.
That’s the final over of the session and it’s tea.
India 178-3 (Rohit 96, Jadeja 62) Overs: 51
Rehan continues, and three singles come from it as Rohit inches closer to a century.
India 175-3 (Rohit 94, Jadeja 61) Overs: 50
One single from the latest Root over. Tea isn’t far away.
India 174-3 (Rohit 93, Jadeja 61) Overs: 49
Rehan’s latest over goes for four singles as replays show that he had a half-decent shout for an lbw in his previous over. It would have been going on to be all three reds, but was there an absolute feather of a glove that would have saved the batter? Yes there was, well maybe. Swann on commentary thinks there was, but it was the faintest feather, and it's not certain that it would have been called on review.
India 170-3 (Rohit 91, Jadeja 59) Overs: 48
Jadeja, batting in a cap against the spinners, dispatches an over-pitched delivery from Root to the boundary.
But he gets a bit lucky with a leave to a ball that turns back more than he expected and only just misses off stump.
A single off the final ball of the over means that the all-rounder keeps the strike.
India 165-3 (Rohit 91, Jadeja 54) Overs: 47
India are ticking now and Rohit whips a wonderful shot away to the midwicket boundary off Rehan to move into the nineties.
He was dropped early and had an lbw overturned on review, and the India captain is taking full advantage of those reprieves.
India 160-3 (Rohit 87, Jadeja 53) Overs: 46
It’s warm out there now and Stokes decides that it’s not wise to bowl his quicks into the ground while nothing is really happening. So it’s spin from both ends with Root back into the attack.
And Rohit doesn’t hide his intent as he goes after the England man, pumping him back down the ground for six off the first ball of his spell.
He doesn’t connect with a bit of a wild slog-sweep second up though, and England won’t mind too much if the India skipper starts getting reckless.
India 152-3 (Rohit 80, Jadeja 52) Overs: 45
Time for something new, and England turn to Rehan.
He bowled one over in the morning, the last one of the session, but this is his first proper bowl of the day.
It feels like the perfect time for him too, with play meandering a little and England needing some inspiration.
There’s an optimistic appeal for lbw off the last ball of the over, but Jadeja had got a big stride in and there was nothing doing there.
FIFTY! India 150-3 (Rohit 79, Jadeja 51) Overs: 44
Jadeja brings up his half-century having been promoted to number five. He’s such an important play for India and they’ll be delighted to have him back.
He rolls out the iconic sword celebration too, giving the crowd something to get excited about.
England have taken that milestone as their cue for a change of approach, with Wood looking for bumpers and two fielders back on the rope. It’s a heavily leg-side field.
This is now the highest partnership of the series by either side.
India 146-3 (Rohit 78, Jadeja 49) Overs: 43
It’s another over for Hartley, with England trying out a leg-side heavy field against Jadeja. India continue to milk the spinner for singles, and it’s a bit of a sluggish period of play right now.
This is pretty much what the day was expected to feel like after India won the toss on a surface that looks primed for big runs, so credit to England for getting those early wickets to at least give them something from the day.
India 144-3 (Rohit 77, Jadeja 48) Overs: 42
It’s another over for Wood, and he nearly gets Jadeja to chop on, with the all-rounder grateful to get off strike.
There’s not a lot happening for him off the pitch though, so he tries something different against Rohit, jumping wide in his delivery stride and almost getting the edge with that slightly angled line.
Just the one run comes from the over.
India 143-3 (Rohit 77, Jadeja 47) Overs: 41
Hartley drops one short and Rohit cuts for four. Those are the only runs to come from the over.
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India 139-3 (Rohit 73, Jadeja 47) Overs: 40
England do indeed opt to rotate the quicks while there’s a hint of reverse and Wood replaces Anderson after the drinks break.
He’ll also be tempted to have a go at Rohit with some short-pitched stuff, like he did in the first session.
Jadeja climbs into a cut that beats Rehan in the outfield to add four to the score, and flicks a two to mean six runs come off the over.
TNT Sports: The home of England men’s tours of India
TNT Sports is the new official broadcast home of England men’s tours of India in 2024, 2025 and 2028.
TNT Sports has also agreed a deal to show exclusive live coverage of every red-ball and white-ball international series played in India for the next five years.
The new agreement means:
- England’s five-Test tour of India will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s white ball tour (3 x ODIs and 5 x T20s) of India in January-February 2025
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s tour of India, currently scheduled for January-February 2028.
India 133-3 (Rohit 73, Jadeja 41) Overs: 39
Hartley's latest over goes for three runs, and it’s a century partnership for Rohit and Jadeja, a brilliant effort from these two, giving India a platform on which they will hope their debutants can build on.
The players take drinks and India will be pretty happy with how they’ve recovered today, especially after winning the toss.
India 130-3 (Rohit 71, Jadeja 40) Overs: 38
Anderson continues, and there’s a bit of a rarity as he slides one down the leg side, which Rohit flicks for four.
Those are the only runs from the over as this pair continue to take back control for India. It’s been an excellent partnership, exactly what the home side needed.
India 126-3 (Rohit 67, Jadeja 40) Overs: 37
A thick outside edge runs away for three. That will keep England interested, but it was never really at risk of finding the hands of a fielder.
Hartley’s over goes for just those three runs.
India 123-3 (Rohit 64, Jadeja 40) Overs: 36
Anderson continues. It’s another maiden and he finishes with a lovely ball, ending a set-up that was designed to draw the edge from Jadeja and very nearly does so, with the ball fizzing past the outside edge.
India 123-3 (Rohit 64, Jadeja 40) Overs: 35
Hartley continues and bowls tidily as Stokes continues to move his fielders around with dizzying frequency.
I’d expect to see spin from one end throughout the afternoon now, with the quicks potentially rotating from the other end as long as they can while there’s reverse on offer.
How Wood starred with the new ball
It was Mark Wood who got this Test off to a stunning start, picking up two early wickets in a blistering opening spell.
The brilliance of Wood caught the attention of Sir Alastair Cook and Steven Finn in the TNT Sports studio, with the pair lauding the impact of England’s pacer.
India 121-3 (Rohit 62, Jadeja 40) Overs: 34
Anderson is getting the ball to reverse and he has Jadeja in all sorts of trouble with one that jags back through the gap between bat and pad, skimming over the top of off stump.
Two singles come from the over.
India 119-3 (Rohit 61, Jadeja 39) Overs: 33
Rohit gets one right out of the screws, sending a huge six into the stands over the long-on boundary. England will be happy enough to see the India skipper taking risks like that, but it was a huge hit.
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India 111-3 (Rohit 53, Jadeja 39) Overs: 32
Anderson returns to the attack and sends down a maiden.
There a couple of stifled lbw calls in the over, with Anderson cutting the left-hander in half with one that cuts back into him. Neither call was worth a review.
Is there a bit of reverse swing there for Anderson? I think there was you know. That’ll be interesting.
India 111-3 (Rohit 53, Jadeja 39) Overs: 31
It’s Hartley again. There are some small cracks for the quicks and there’s a bit of grip and turn for the spinners, and certainly in the back half of this match you’d expect this to be a surface that offers plenty for both bowling attacks.
But right now it’s a good surface for batting and this India pair look good right now, laying the sort of platform that the rest of the top order should have been able to provide in the first session.
Two singles come from Hartley’s over.
India 109-3 (Rohit 52, Jadeja 38) Overs: 30
Mark Wood continues, bending his back to try and get something out of a surface that is look increasingly sluggish.
He finishes the over with one that nips back into the pads of Jadeja, but it doesn’t look right and England opt against the review.
Two leg byes come from the over.
India 107-3 (Rohit 52, Jadeja 38) Overs: 29
It’s a maiden for Hartley as Stokes tries out all sorts of adjustments with the field.
He’s moving the fielders all the time, keeping the batters on their toes and trying to prevent things from just drifting. Sometimes it’s genius, sometimes it’s just a case of trying something new, but Stokes isn’t one to rest on his laurels.
India 107-3 (Rohit 52, Jadeja 38) Overs: 28
A thick edge from Jadeja runs away to the boundary. There was never a chance there for the slip fielders, with the ball racing along the ground.
And he flicks a two into the leg side to keep the strike.
India 101-3 (Rohit 52, Jadeja 32) Overs: 27
Hartley takes the ball after lunch, with Anderson currently off the field of play.
Just one run comes from a decent over from the left-armer.
Celebrating England's centurion
This Rajkot Test is the 100th of Ben Stokes’ brilliant career.
The England captain is already written in as one of the greats, and he’s not finished yet.
India 100-3 (Rohit 52, Jadeja 31) Overs: 26
Mark Wood was outstanding in that first session and he takes the ball after lunch.
It’s a hard surface here in Rajkot, which should mean opportunities for reverse swing for the quicks. Could it be slightly too early in the innings for that? We’ll find out soon enough.
He starts with decent pace, but Jadeja runs hard for a couple of twos, and he finishes the over with a three as Bairstow lumbers back in the outfield.
That’s the 100 up for India too, as they continue to rebuild after being 33-3.
Seven runs from the over and not much movement for Wood.
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Story of the first session
India 93/3 at lunch; Fifty for Rohit; Wood takes 2/26
What a morning that was. Test cricket at its absolute finest, with India fighting back with a fifty partnership after England made a stunning start with three early wickets.
Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first on a pitch that looked set to be one for the batters, especially for the first few days before any cracks widen.
And India made four changes to their XI, with Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja coming back in for Mukesh Kumar and Axar Patel respectively, the highly-rated batter Sarfaraz Khan making a Test debut in place of Shreyas Iyer, and Dhruv Jurel taking the gloves for his own debut in place of KS Bharat.
But it was England’s bowlers who dominated the first hour.
Mark Wood made the early breakthrough on his return to the side, picking up his first wicket of the series with a beauty, pitched short of a length and rising into the channel outside off stump, drawing the edge from Yashasvi Jaiswal, which Joe Root held onto at first slip.
And Wood soon bagged his second with another lovely delivery, drawing Shubman Gill forward and catching the edge, with Ben Foakes taking the catch behind the stumps to send India’s number three back for a duck.
England’s extraordinary start continued as Tom Hartley picked up a wicket in his first over, as Rajat Patidar cut straight into the hands of Ben Duckett in the ring from a ball that held up slightly in the pitch and bounced on the batter.
And at 33-3 India were in a heap of trouble, with James Anderson bowling beautifully without a reward as part of England’s two-pronged pace attack.
But India were able to rebuild through Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, who was promoted up to number five.
The India captain was given a first reprieve when Root put down a chance at slip off Hartley, which came to him fast and low but still should have been taken.
And Rohit was given another let-off when he reviewed an lbw decision having got a thin inside edge onto his pads.
But he took advantage of those chances to finish the session on 52*, with Jadeja on 24* as India wrested back a bit of the momentum in the second hour of the morning.
Debutants Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel are the next two due in, with the first day set up beautifully after that fascinating first session.
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LUNCH: India 93-3 (Rohit 52, Jadeja 24) Overs: 25
Here’s Rehan, getting a go on the cusp of lunch as England look to snaffle another one in this morning session.
The youngster bowls some really amazing deliveries when he gets it right and gets one to rip past the outside edge of Rohit’s bat, with Foakes taking off the bails. The television umpire has a look at it, but the batter’s foot was always grounded there.
Three singles come off the over and that’s lunch.
India 90-3 (Rohit 51, Jadeja 22) Overs: 24
Jadeja drives Root down the ground for four to bring up the fifty partnership with his captain.
It was a big call from India to promote Jadeja up to number five after England’s three early wickets, but it has paid off and these two are giving the home side a bit of a platform.
Another loose delivery is cut away for four as the runs begin to flow just before lunch.
FIFTY! India 81-3 (Rohit 51, Jadeja 13) Overs: 23
Hartley catches Rohit on the back pad and the umpire keeps his finger down.
England consider the review but the bowler isn’t convinced and Stokes decides not to. Replays show it would have been not out on umpires call, just clipping the leg bail but not enough to overturn the decision.
And a clip for two brings up the fifty for Rohit at the back-end of the over, his first half-century of the series.
He’s been dropped, overturned an lbw decision on review and survived a probing Anderson spell, but the India captain is still out there and is looking in dangerously good touch after that scratchy start.
India 78-3 (Rohit 49, Jadeja 12) Overs: 22
Six runs come from Root’s latest over as he slides one down the leg side with his last ball and Rohit helps it away to the rope.
Root grimaces, that wasn’t a great ball.
India 72-3 (Rohit 44, Jadeja 11) Overs: 21
Hartley continues and one run comes from his latest over, with England continuing with their leg-side plan against Jadeja.
India 71-3 (Rohit 43, Jadeja 11) Overs: 20
Anderson’s second spell of the day has come to an end as Stokes gives the elder statesman a chance to catch his breath, and it’s a first look at Joe Root with the ball.
He could have a lot of work to do in this Test as part of a three-pronged spin attack, with Shoaib Bashir not included in this Test to accommodate the extra quick.
One thing you will get with Root is a boost to the over rate, and he absolutely rattles through a maiden.
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TNT Sports is the new official broadcast home of England men’s tours of India in 2024, 2025 and 2028.
TNT Sports has also agreed a deal to show exclusive live coverage of every red-ball and white-ball international series played in India for the next five years.
The new agreement means:
- England’s five-Test tour of India will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and discovery+
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s white ball tour (3 x ODIs and 5 x T20s) of India in January-February 2025
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s tour of India, currently scheduled for January-February 2028.
India 71-3 (Rohit 43, Jadeja 11) Overs: 19
Hartley drags one a bit short and Rohit dispatches it to the rope.
Will England rue that drop earlier on? It looks that way right now, with Rohit increasingly comfortable out in the middle.
India 67-3 (Rohit 39, Jadeja 11) Overs: 18
It’s a maiden for James Anderson, with Jadeja playing it safe against England’s experienced operator.
India 67-3 (Rohit 39, Jadeja 11) Overs: 17
Counter-attacking from Rohit as he dances down the track and dispatches Hartley over the top for four. That is such aggressive batting.
India 62-3 (Rohit 35, Jadeja 10) Overs: 16
Anderson continues and a lofted drive from Rohit very nearly drops into the hands of substitute fielder Lawrence at mid-off, just carrying over his head. Lawrence does well to drag it back and prevent the boundary, but a punch through the covers next ball does give Rohit at boundary.
You get the sense that the India captain is the key here. He’s been dropped and had an lbw overturned on review, and if he can get through this challenging period then it’s a surface where he could make England pay.
Six runs come from the over.
India 56-3 (Rohit 29, Jadeja 10) Overs: 15
England have fielders around the bat to Jadeja and Pope is going to be in the thick of the action at short leg, with the all-rounder repeatedly turning Hartley around the corner throughout the over.
There’s a leg-slip in too, so England clearly have a plan to Jadeja here.
Hartley misfields off the last ball of the over as a straight push goes through him and runs away for four.
NOT OUT ON REVIEW! India 50-3 (Rohit 29, Jadeja 4) Overs: 14
It’s been a good morning for the quicks, so after having a breather it’s Anderson who comes back into the attack to replace Wood, whose lengthy opening spell comes to an end.
An in-ducker catches Rohit on the pads and the finger goes up a lengthy delay, but the batter reviews straight away. DRS picks up an inside edge onto the pad and it’s overturned. Rohit knew that he was safe straight away, you could tell from the way he reviewed. But it wasn’t an understandable error from the umpire, with the bat very close to the pad.
Anderson’s getting the ball to talk here though, and another inswinger catches the edge of Rohit’s bat and cannons straight into his unmentionables.
Understandably we’ll have a little pause while he regains his composure. The medics are out, although what they can do I’m not entirely sure.
Anderson gets back underway and he’s bowling ridiculously well, tying Rohit in knots with a peach that catches the skipper on the thigh pad as he plays all around it. There’s movement both ways for Anderson, and he’s making the most of it.
The over ends with one that cannons off the inside edge and into the pads as Rohit rushes down the wicket to get to the pitch of the ball and try to take lbw out of the equation.
What an over that was. It’s stunning cricket in Rajkot right now.
DROP! India 49-3 (Rohit 29, Jadeja 3) Overs: 13
Rohit hits back-to-back boundaries off Hartley as India counter-attack.
But a chance goes down off the final ball of the over as Rohit looks for another boundary into the leg side that catches the edge and Root can’t hold on to a low chance. He wouldn’t have had long to see that in fairness, given the nature of the shot, and it came to him very quick, but that’s a chance for sure.
India 39-3 (Rohit 19, Jadeja 3) Overs: 12
Wood continues in a lengthy opening spell, and there’s a suggestion of a hint of reverse swing early on.
England have unusual plans to both of these batters, with a fielder in an odd catching position at somewhere between leg slip and short fine leg to Jadeja. And it almost pays off too as the all-rounder flicks one around the corner just wide of Pope in that unusual fielding spot.
The deep leg-side field remains in place for Rohit, and the captain takes on a short ball, keeping his hook down for a single.
A no-ball makes it a seven ball over, and five runs come from it.
That’s drinks after an intriguing first hour that has certainly gone England’s way.
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Sir Alastair Cook and Steven Finn are in the studio with Kate Mason, while Graeme Swann is out in Rajkot for TNT as part of the wider commentary team.
India 34-3 (Rohit 18, Jadeja 0) Overs: 11
This pitch is turning a little bit and Hartley gets one to rip past the outside edge of Rohit’s bat. It’s a lovely ball and has Swann waxing lyrical on commentary.
He very nearly gets the skipper with one that stops a little on this sluggish surface and has Rohit temporarily worried about a caught and bowled, with the ball falling comfortably short of Hartley on his follow-through.
That’s a maiden for Hartley.
India 34-3 (Rohit 18, Jadeja 0) Overs: 10
With India in trouble Stokes decides to give Wood one more over, with instructions to send down the short stuff.
And he does just that, catching Rohit in the grill with a snorter second up. It takes quite a bit to make a batter of Rohit’s quality look unsettled with pace, but Wood has just done that.
England have a ring of fielders back on the rope, hoping to lure the Indian skipper into an unadvised hook.
Rohit does go leg side off the last ball of the over, but Wood’s final delivery doesn’t quite get up and the batter can easily pull it away for a single to keep the strike.
WICKET! India 33-3 (Rohit 17, Jadeja 0) Overs: 9
Rajat Patidar caught by Ben Duckett bowled Tom Hartley for 5 (15b)
One of the more interesting elements of Stokes’ captaincy is how he uses his bowlers, particularly how he protects and rotates his quicks. There would have been a huge temptation to keep this spell going, but England’s skipper doesn’t over-bowl Anderson and takes him off after a four-over burst, getting the ball into Hartley’s hands early.
And it’s an absolute master-stroke for England, as Patidar does something bizarre off a ball that bounces on him slightly, completely miscuing a cut shot that loops into the hands of Duckett at extra cover. Rohit looks on perplexed, that was the softest of dismissals and India are at risk of unravelling here. Did the pitch do something unexpected there? Perhaps it caught a crack.
Ravindra Jadeja is in at five, a slot higher than expected, offering debutant Sarfaraz Khan a bit of protection in this high-pressure scenario.
India 32-2 (Rohit 16, Patidar 5) Overs: 8
Patidar looked good without getting the big knock on his Test debut in Vizag, and he shows all of that class with a punch through the covers that runs away to the boundary.
It doesn’t take much to send the ball to the boundary at the sort of pace that Wood is bowling.
Seven runs come from the over.
India 25-2 (Rohit 14, Patidar 0) Overs: 7
One run comes for a tight Anderson over as India look to regroup and see out this opening spell.
How long can Stokes risk keeping his quick guys on? He’ll be wary of over-bowling the pacers in the first morning, especially on a surface where you’d expect there to be some reverse swing later in the day.
WICKET! India 24-2 (Rohit 13, Patidar 0) Overs: 6
Shubman Gill caught by Ben Foakes bowled Mark Wood for 0 (9b)
Oh my word it’s another and Mark Wood is rampant here.
It’s a repeat effort, just short of a length but leaving Gill in two minds, and the batter prods forward at the ball, edging through to Foakes behind the stumps.
It’s another great piece of bowling and Wood is right in the mix here after his wicket-less efforts in the first Test, and it came just a ball after he’d unsettled Gill with one that kept a bit low and jagged back, narrowly missing off stump.
This really is brilliant bowling from England, it’s hard to overstate just how impressive it is to get two early wickets on this sort of surface which is offering very little movement. Patidar is the new man in, playing only his second Test.
India 23-1 (Rohit 12, Gill 0) Overs: 5
Anderson strikes Gill on the pad early in the over and there’s an appeal, but it didn’t look right at all Stokes shakes his head, indicating he thinks there was an inside edge. Replays suggest that the 100-Test man was absolutely right.
Anderson continues and draws another inside edge off the bat of Gill that crashes into the knee-roll. It’s lovely bowling right now from England’s pace duo, as they look to take advantage of this small new-ball window before the ball gets soft.
WICKET! India 22-1 (Rohit 11, Gill 0) Overs: 4
Yashasvi Jaiswal caught by Joe Root bowled Mark Wood for 10 (10b)
England are jubilant! India’s openers looked so comfortable in these opening overs, but a rising delivery in the channel from Wood lures Jaiswal into a prod off the back foot and he edges it through to the cordon where Root holds onto the catch.
That was a really lovely delivery, just short of a length and rising at decent pace to force the error from the batter.
Rohit had started the over with a flick off the pads for four to keep the runs flowing, but that breakthrough is a massive boon for England.
India 17-0 (Jaiswal 10, Rohit 6) Overs: 3
Another lovely shot from Jaiswal, driven back down the ground to the rope at long-off, keeps the runs flowing for India as Anderson continues.
Those are the only runs to come from the over.
India 13-0 (Jaiswal 6, Rohit 6) Overs: 2
Wood takes the new ball from the other end and starts with some decent pace.
But India make it through the over relatively comfortably, with Rohit’s wonderful drive to the long-on boundary helping take seven runs off the over.
It’s an attacking early field from England with plenty of slip fielders for this new-ball spell.
India 6-0 (Jaiswal 5, Rohit 0) Overs: 1
Anderson takes the new ball and Jaiswal dispatches a really decent first delivery to the boundary with an absolute peach of a straight drive. That ball would have troubled many batters, but it’s a wonderful shot and India will hope it’s a sign of things to come.
A rare Anderson no-ball makes it a seven-ball over, but there’s a hint of movement and Anderson beats the edge of Rohit late in the over with a beauty.
There’s a hint of haze in the air, but it’s bright and warm and feels like a day that could be perfect for batting.
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03:55 – India make four changes
We already knew that England were switching their bowling balance by bringing in Mark Wood for Shoaib Bashir, and of course Jack Leach and Harry Brook are not in India for fitness and personal reasons respectively.
But India have switched things up, partly for enforced reasons. Virat Kohli won’t play in the series for personal reasons, something that Ben Stokes talked about during his press conference yesterday.
Shreyas Iyer has been dropped and KL Rahul isn’t quite ready to be an option in the middle order, so Rajat Patidar moves up to four in his second Test and Sarfaraz Khan, who has an extraordinary domestic record, comes in at five.
Ravindra Jadeja returns for Axar Patel, which is a huge boost for India, and Mohammed Siraj unsurprisingly comes back in as the second seamer at the expense of Mukesh Kumar.
And there’s also a slight surprise with a change at wicketkeeper, where Dhruv Jurel comes in for KS Bharat to make a Test debut.
03:50 – India win the toss and bat first
The first big act of the match came a few minutes ago out in the middle in Rajkot, where Rohit Sharma won the toss and unsurprisingly opted to bat first on a pitch that most expect to be the best for the batters in this series.
India have had big first innings leads in both of the first two matches of this series, and they have the ideal platform to put on a mountain of runs here and put some miles into the legs of England’s bowling attack. It’s going to be a big test for the tourists.
03:45 – Hello and welcome
The wait is over and this fascinating series is minutes away from continuing with the start of the third Test.
It’s almost enough to give you a pep in the step… although that might also be the early morning coffee.
It’s going to be a fascinating match in Rajkot at a ground that is hosting just its third ever men’s Test.
England team news
Mark Wood has been recalled by England in the only change from their defeat last time out. He has replaced Shoaib Bashir for the clash in Rajkot.
Speaking about his decision to bring Wood into the side, Stokes said: "Taking a bit of knowledge from the last Test match we played here, albeit a long time ago, it was a pretty true, flat wicket.
"Looking at it today, it looks a bit platey but I think it's a good wicket.
"Bringing in an extra seamer this week is the option we've gone with because we think it's going to give us the best chance of winning."
How to watch India v England Test series on TNT Sports
TNT Sports is the new official broadcast home of England men’s tours of India in 2024, 2025 and 2028.
TNT Sports has also agreed a deal to show exclusive live coverage of every red-ball and white-ball international series played in India for the next five years.
Cricket fans will not miss a single delivery, boundary or wicket of England's five-Test tour in India in 2024.
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
The new agreement means:
- England’s five-Test tour of India in 2024 will be broadcast live on TNT Sports and
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s white ball tour (3 x ODIs and 5 x T20s) of India in January-February 2025
- TNT Sports will broadcast England’s tour of India, currently scheduled for January-February 2028.
TNT Sports will not only broadcast England’s white ball tour (3 x ODIs and 5 x T20s) of India in January-February 2025, but will also show every red-ball and white-ball international series played in India for the next five years.
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