India tighten grip on England test series. England 78-4

Even though his spin partner Adil Rashid is now the leading wicket-taker in the series (*as of 28 November), his high economy rate of 3.43 has not provided skipper Alastair Cook with the control necessary to build pressure on the Indian batsmen. But as the injury to the little finger on his left hand was classed as an external blow, he would have been allowed to open.

A four-day finish with a 2-0 lead is looking imminent for India.

The England skipper had been living dangerously, with two lbw calls against him going for reviews, first by India and then by the batsman himself.

Joe Root had been pressed into service at the top of the order for the first time since he was relieved of that duty after the 2013 Ashes, and he at least stayed until the close, unlike Jonny Bairstow, undone by low bounce from Jayant and a fine catch by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel.

Hailing all-rounder Ben Stokes for his contribution in the match, Cook said: “Stokes is a brilliant player”. The original decision was overturned on DRS review.

England’s defeat was confirmed within two hours – leaving them to contemplate during the short break before next week’s fourth Test in Mumbai how they might yet somehow be able to push India harder then. At best, they can hope to delay the inevitable as the pitch showed more life when the Indian spinners were operating. “There is a bit of variable bounce but you kind of accept that on Day 3”. It is still a decent pitch.

Asked about the impact of Ravichandran Ashwin, Bairstow said: “Look Ashwin is a quality bowler, got a lot of tricks and lot of variation. He has scored a heck of a lot of runs over a heck of a long period of time against any attack in the world”, said Bairstow.

Ravindra Jadeja top-scored with 90 while Jayant Yadav’s 55 – his maiden fifty in only his second Test – gave the England bowlers a frustrating two sessions of play.

Starting from overnight 271-6, Ashwin and Jadeja took India past 300.

Ashwin’s wicket ended a 97-run seventh-wicket stand between him and Jadeja. “So if I settled down, I knew that after 60-70 balls, I could up my scoring rate”.

It would have been a very good catch, from a hefty deflection, and India knew far easier opportunities would surely be in store.

Winning the toss and batting on the opening day is considered as a big advantage in Indian conditions but Kohli and Co overcame that to win the game by eight wickets. Credit to India, they outplayed us.

“The idea was to bowl more at the stumps and it came off”, he said.

While Jadeja and Jayant Yadav (2/21 in 12 overs) did a commendable job in the first hour where they got a wicket apiece, it was odd that India’s best spinner was only introduced in the second hour.

Speaking about his trademark celebration after reaching his half-century landmark, Jadeja remarked: “It’s a traditional Rajput style”.

Aggression proved his downfall, however, as Jadeja stepped out to Adil Rashid and holed out in the deep to depart after an entertaining 170-ball knock that included 10 fours and a six.

“Any team will have a plus point if its lower middle order is contributing”. They were bowling boring lines outside off stump.