QPlay: India in Control at Mohali; Sindhu Pulls Out of Macau Open

England had been unlucky with opener Haseeb Hameed’s injury and that demanded more responsibility from the rest of the top-order on a track that still has no ghost. Parthiv Patel, playing his first Test in eight years, pulled off a stunning low catch to dismiss the year’s top run-getter, Jonny Bairstow, just before stumps and India capped things off with the wicket of Ben Stokes with a fine call for DRS. “He really runs in and gives his 100 per cent and gets rewards”. On a pitch where Moeen Ali and Gareth Batty looked ordinary, Ashwin, with his length and deception, looked more potent.

Cape Town – Following solid performances in the day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide, Proteas captain Faf du Plessis and fast bowler Kyle Abbott have made significant increases in the latest ICC players rankings.

Meanwhile, in the list of all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja has gained two slots to reach a career-best fourth slot after scoring a crucial 90 in his only innings in Mohali. “We didn’t score enough runs”.

Earlier, the English batsmen had a terrible outing in their second innings as they slumped to 156 for 7 after conceding a first-innings lead of 134 runs, thanks to the special batting display by the Indian lower order in their first innings. Lead extended to 22 runs.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who claimed three wickets in England’s second innings, also hit 72 with three other Indian batsmen making half-centuries.

Vijay, howver, continued his run of poor form, edging Woakes to Joe Root at second slip later in the same over.

The next over from the end saw Woakes being removed and Adil Rashid (4/118) being introduced.

England’s defeat therefore still appeared a formality – after which they must contemplate during the short break to the fourth Test in Mumbai how they might yet somehow be able to battle back to earn a highly unlikely 2-2 draw.

Jadeja was polite but sarcasm was not lost when he said that it’s not as if he fancies himself as a “specialist batsman” because he is indeed one. The visitors lost their sixth wicket of Jos Buttler (18) at 107 in 46.4 overs. “He showed great character for a 19-year-old, to be honest, at this level”.

The Saurashtra all-rounder duly completed his fifty when he pushed Rashid for a single and celebrated it with a customary sword wielding. India dropped catches, but England could not drive home the advantage.