On Day 2 of the third Test in Rajkot, England showed off their superiority over India by finishing the day on 207/2 in 35 overs, with Ben Duckett (133* off 118) and Joe Root (9* off 13) at the crease. With openers Zak Crawley (15 off 28) and Ben Duckett engaging in an 89-run partnership off 79 balls, England got off to a fantastic start. India’s first wicket came from Ravichandran Ashwin, who removed Crawley, and then Mohammed Siraj removed Ollie Pope (39 off 55).

Earlier in the day, Ravindra Jadeja (110*) and Kuldeep Yadav (1*) were at the crease when India started their innings with an overnight score of 326/5. In the opening session, Kuldeep was unable to hold on for very long as James Anderson caught up to him on 4 (24). Jadeja could add only two more runs to his overnight total before being bowled by Joe Root for a run score of 112 (225), which ended India’s innings at 331/7.

Following two early wickets, Dhruv Jurel (46 off 104) and Ravichandran Ashwin (37 off 89) shared a huge 77-run eighth-wicket stand to propel India above 400. Prior to reaching their respective half-centuries, Rehan Ahmed defeated them. With a stunning cameo of 26 (28) from Jasprit Bumrah, India ended their innings at 445.

Here are some highlights from the second day of the IND vs. ENG third test:

1. Dhruv Jurel seizes the opportunities that England provides.

Following Sarfaraz Khan’s spectacular debut fifty, Dhruv Jurel too had a significant role in knocking down the order. Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope, respectively, dropped him twice, but he took full advantage of the chances. The 23-year-old used two fours and three sixes to help him score 46 (104) to just miss a half-century.

Nerveless Jurel 🥶

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 16, 2024

2. Jasprit Bumrah makes a stunning cameo.

Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah of India made a spectacular cameo of 26 (28), but he was just as impressive at bat. India reached 445 in their first innings thanks to three fours and a six from Bumrah.

💥 goes Bumrah, this time with the BAT 🤩

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 16, 2024

3. Ravichandran Ashwin takes 500 wickets in Test cricket.

Ravichandran Ashwin, an off-spinner for India, made history by being the second-fastest bowler to reach 500 wickets in Test cricket. In his 184th bowling inning, Ashwin reached the milestone when he got Zak Crawly to top edge with a sweep shot to a short fine leg.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩! 👏 👏

Take A Bow, R Ashwin 🙌 🙌

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/FM0hVG5pje#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @ashwinravi99 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/XOAfL0lYmA

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 16, 2024

4. Ben Duckett’s hundred frustrates India.

On Day 2, Ben Duckett, the England opener, calmed the Indian bowlers with a fast century. The southpaw took 39 balls to get his fifty, and 88 balls to reach his hundred. At 133 (118), he concluded the day undefeated after hitting two sixes and twenty-one fours in his innings.

Ben Duckett, take a bow! 🙌

He achieves his 3️⃣rd Test century, also marking the fastest by an 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 batter in India! 🤯

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 16, 2024

Here are a few responses to the captivating Day’s Play:

To have one front-line bowler who can score you runs under pressure is already a huge advantage in Test Cricket, BUT to have two in @ashwinravi99 and @imjadeja winning games with the ball and then scoring runs too is almost unfair😄 Incredible value that these two add👏

Eng off…

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) February 16, 2024

Really surprised India’s spinners haven’t Bowled over the wicket and into the bowlers foot holes with both Pope & Duckett sweeping so much .. #INDvsENG

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 16, 2024

To have one front-line bowler who can score you runs under pressure is already a huge advantage in Test Cricket, BUT to have two in @ashwinravi99 and @imjadeja winning games with the ball and then scoring runs too is almost unfair😄 Incredible value that these two add👏

Eng off…

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) February 16, 2024

Ash Anna 🫡
What a LEGEND! 🫶
5⃣0⃣0⃣ and counting 💪 pic.twitter.com/G4Sy9GvgpM

— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) February 16, 2024

The Astronaut goes into orbit. Great performance by a top-class operator to get to Club 500. Well done,

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 16, 2024

500 Test wickets for a one-in-a-million bowler!

In AshWIN the SpinNER, there was always a WINNER. 500 wickets is a huge milestone in Test cricket. Congratulations, Champion!#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Cb48ZJE3XO

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 16, 2024