After a landslide victory in the 3rd test of the series, the India cricket team hoped to secure the test series going into the fourth match, with the home side going into the match 2-1 up. After falling short in the first test to England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach, India revitalised some of the form they showcased in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, claiming 2 back to back test victories, something which they wished to replicate in the going into the innings at the JSCA International Stadium Complex.
England Start Strong On Day 1
On the first day of the Test match, the England cricket team took command with a commanding performance led by Joe Root’s impressive century. This would be his 31st in tests and his 10th against India, setting the record as the highest achieved by a single player against the hosts. Despite setbacks early on, Root proved resilient, anchoring England’s innings and forming a crucial partnership of 86 runs alongside Ben Foakes.
Nevertheless, the bowling prowess of India’s newcomer, Akash Deep, was evident as he swiftly claimed two wickets and applied consistent pressure on the English batsmen. Although England’s recovery from a challenging position of 112-5 highlighted their determination, the India national cricket team found it imperative to regroup and fine-tune their strategies before Day 2. The objective was to capitalise on early breakthroughs and curtail England’s formidable total.
Hopeful Innings For India On Day 2
At the conclusion of Day 2 in the Test match, England established themselves as the dominant force, propelled by commendable performances from Joe Root and Ollie Robinson. Root’s exceptional century served as the cornerstone of England’s innings, while Robinson’s spirited batting contributed to the team’s total, marking his inaugural Test fifty.
As their batting innings commenced, India drew comfort from the tenacious partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal, who secured another resilient half-century, and Sarfaraz Khan, providing a hopeful glimmer for the home side. Despite facing adversity, the duo demonstrated resolve and overall determination, setting the stage for Day 3 that was sure to be captivating.
Meanwhile, the outstanding bowling efforts from Shoaib Bashir resulted in his best figures in first-class cricket to date, further reinforcing the dominant position of England. Conversely, Kuldeep Yadav and Dhruv Jurel’s steadfastness ensured no additional wickets fell, suggesting there would be a potential resurgence on the cards for the Indian side.
Day 3 Sees India Turn Things Around
As the 3rd day of the test match began, this would be the marker for India’s remarkable turnaround. Dhruv Jurel’s tenacious innings, coupled with an outstanding bowling performance highlighted by Ravichandran Ashwin’s five-wicket haul and Kuldeep Yadav’s four individual wickets, helped to propel India into a more commanding position, in turn, reducing the England lead significantly to just 46 runs.
In their second innings, the England team faced stern resistance from India’s skilled bowlers, with Ashwin’s aggressive spell essentially dismantling their top order. Some momentary stability was provided by Zak Crawley who managed to counter with a half century before ultimately being struck back with yet another crucial wicket from Indian Premier League powerhouse Yadav.
With India now stepping up to the crease for the second time, openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal would initiate the 192 run chase, amassing runs briskly and positioning themselves favourably for a third test victory in the lead up to the 4th day.
India Seal Victory On Day 4
Starting off where day 3 left off, the home nation remained in control, with the aforementioned opening pair laying out solid foundations to build on top of in the final day. Sharma was the first to reach 50 runs, setting the stage for India’s victory pursuit, with partner Jaiswal establishing an opening stand of 84 runs, something which was disrupted due to Enland star Joe Root intervening and dismissing the latter player.
This somewhat triggered a momentum shift, with Sharma soon being removed by Tom Hartley to ignite a resurgence for the visiting side. This was something that was compounded on top of further thanks to a double dismissal from Shoaib Bashir which injected some additional uncertainty in this highly competitive contest.
However, the youthful duo of Dhruv Jurel and Shubman Gill would begin to thwart the aggressive tactics of the visitors, with both players showcasing next level composure. Gil managed to craft a half century comprising of only two 6’s and no boundaries, with this being a testament to his patience at the crease. Simultaneously, his partner also remained unbeaten, with their 72 run partnership being the factor that guided India across the finish line of the 4th test, securing a milestone victory for the men in blue that was hard fought.
What To Expect Going Into The 5th Test Match
After the enthralling conclusion of the 4th test, the Indian side clinched the series victory with a match to spare. However, despite this, they will aim to extend the overall dominance they have already showcased even further. England though will hope to at least salvage an final win in the final series that started out so strong for them, with the final test entry beginning on the 7th of March.
The matchup between these two cricketing powerhouses has proved to be an exciting one that has provided a whole array of memorable moments. All of the key points and takeaways that this 2024 India vs England test series has produced have been covered here at Cricket Today, with more match breakdowns to follow as this series concludes.
