Rahul Dravid expresses rare emotions as Bumrah highlights India’s remarkable performance in the opening session of Day 4 against England.
As Day 4 resumed in the Visakhapatnam Test, India required nine wickets for victory, while England faced a daunting task of chasing 332 runs. By the conclusion of the first session, India emerged as the clear favorites, being just four wickets away from leveling the series. Although it’s not impossible for England to stage a comeback, the challenge is significant, especially with 205 runs needed, a challenging pitch, and two new batsmen, Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes, at the crease. Achieving victory for England would indeed require a miraculous effort.
England did not merely linger on; they actively implemented their Bazball strategy. Although it initially appeared successful with a scoring rate exceeding 4.5, India managed to make significant breakthroughs, taking five wickets in the session and limiting the visitors to 194/6 at the lunch break. Axar Patel secured India’s first wicket of the day, while Ravichandran Ashwin claimed two more to reach 499 wickets. The session concluded perfectly for India as Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav took consecutive wickets right before the break.
After Kuldeep Yadav got Zak Crawley out for 72, India had a significant advantage. However, when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Johnny Bairstow in the following over, they made a decisive breakthrough. The impact was so profound that even Rahul Dravid, known for his stoic demeanor, couldn’t contain his emotions and let out a triumphant roar.
The opening session unfolded as England, led by Rehan Ahmed, resumed their innings with an aggressive approach. Despite some initial success, Axar Patel managed to put Ahmed on the defensive. Ollie Pope also made a promising start, but Rohit Sharma’s quick reflexes at first slip ensured that India didn’t feel the absence of Shubman Gill, who was sidelined due to injury. England played their shots, but on the challenging Day 4 pitch, it required both courage and precision. Although they demonstrated the former, their execution faltered. Ashwin dismissed the formidable Joe Root, who played one shot too many, and then the Kuldeep-Bumrah duo took control of the proceedings.
The match seems poised for a Day 4 conclusion, with Ashwin displaying exceptional form and Bumrah gearing up for impactful performances. India holds a clear advantage, yet England relies on Stokes as their final prospect for a comeback.