India vs England Live Score Updates, 3rd Test Day 1: Ind vs Eng, Rohit Sharma led India are all set to take on England for the 3rd match of the 5 Test series at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot today. The Test series is currently evenly poised with England winning the first match while India managing to clinch the second one in Vishakhapatnman.
Contrary to the popular perception that India will steamroll their opposition in home conditions where they haven’t lost a series in the last 12 years, England have made their presence felt in the series with the Bazball approach that has made the Indians catch up with the visitors on many occasions.
India, however, will be looking for a repeat of their performance in the 2nd Test match where the might of Jasprit Bumrah came to the fore when the pacer took 9 wickets in the Test match and exploited the reverse friendly conditions in Vishakhapatnam while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill also shone with a double century and a century respectively.
Meanwhile, England who are heavily dependent on their batting will look to do what they have done best throughout this series, putting this Indian attack under pressure by taking the aggressive route. Given the inexperience in the Indian batting lineup, English spinners will also feel they have a fair chance at Rajkot.
As for team news, Indian setup will see some changes given that Ravindra Jadeja has passed the fitness test and set to be included in the side for 2nd Test while KL Rahul joins Virat Kohli among the high profile players who will miss this encounter. With Shreyas Iyer not included in the side for the last 3 matches, Indian team are likely to opt for Sarfaraz Khan or Dhruv Jurel in his place instead.
England, on the other hand, have already announced their squad for the 3rd Test match opting for 2 pacers in the form of Mark Wood and James Anderson while th going with the combination of 3 spinners in Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Joe Root.
England Playing XI:
England’s XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson.
India squad:
Rohit Sharma (captain), Jasprit Bumrah, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, KS Bharat, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Devdutt Padikkal.
India vs England Live Score: Ben Stokes comments on Virat Kohli’s abscenece, ‘loss for cricket’
India vs England Live Score: Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Stokes said, “I do not mean to say anything disrespectful to the question. I think when it is situations like these, when someone is missing a big series and a lot of cricket due to personal reasons, which we are not sure of, we should not label that as positive or negative to our team,”
“We should just let it be. It is a broader loss for cricket. I wish Virat whatever he is going through all the best, I wish he comes through it. Virat Kohli, on a cricket field, is something that everybody wants to see,” the English skipper added.
India vs England Live Score: ‘This match will be interesting’ says Jaydev Unadkat
India vs England Live Score: Speaking to ANi, cricketer Jaydev Unadkat said, “Whenever there is a test match in Rajkot, it is a special occasion. We want India to beat England here and get a lead in the series. Both teams are playing well and since the series is currently at 1-1, this match will be very interesting…,”
India vs England Live Score: Sanjay Manjrekar’s big praise for Sarfaraz Khan
India vs England Live Score: Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Manjrekar said, “Yes, inexperienced batting lineup, but I think the quality that’s needed in this particular series are just Indian batters who play spin well. There’s where you think Sarfaraz Khan suddenly makes his case very strong. I would want Rajat Patidar as the incumbent to take that place at number four and then have Sarfaraz Khan coming at number five only on the basis that he was in the queue before,”
“The form that he’s had over the long term should count for something and have more weightage than Devdutt Padikkal, who had a great run of late. Enough indication that Sarfaraz Khan would be an interesting batter for India to have to challenge the English spinners. The better player of spin plays. I don’t think Padikkal being a left-hander will just further his case because India has Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Yashasvi Jaiswal,” the former cricketer added.
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