India Crush England by 434 Runs, Jadeja Shines with Bat and Ball in Dominant Victory
Rajkot, India – February 18, 2024: India cemented their dominance in the five-match Test series against England with a resounding 434-run victory in the third Test at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. Ravindra Jadeja emerged as the hero of the match, contributing significantly with both bat and ball.
India, resuming their second innings at 344/4, declared at 430/4d thanks to centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (214) and Sarfaraz Khan (68*). England’s chase got off to a disastrous start, collapsing to 122 all out in just 39.4 overs. Jadeja was the wrecker-in-chief, claiming a match-defining five-wicket haul for 41 runs.
Dominant Indian Batting:
After dismissing England for 319 in the first innings, India built a commanding lead thanks to solid contributions from their top order. Jaiswal, returning to the side after an injury layoff, played a magnificent innings, hitting 214 runs with 14 fours and 12 sixes. Rohit Sharma (19) and Shubman Gill (91) also provided good starts, while Sarfaraz Khan remained unbeaten with a well-crafted 68*.
Jadeja’s All-Round Brilliance:
Jadeja proved his all-round value once again, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. In the first innings, he scored a crucial 112 runs, steadying the ship after India lost early wickets. His off-spin bowling then wreaked havoc in the second innings, picking up five wickets to dismantle the English batting line-up.
England’s Woeful Response:
Chasing a mammoth 557 runs for victory, England never looked in the hunt. Their top order crumbled against the Indian bowling attack, with only Zak Crawley (11) and Ben Duckett (4) double-digit scores. Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav (2/19), and Mohammed Siraj (2/16) shared the spoils as England were bundled out cheaply.
Series Lead:
This victory gives India a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, putting them in a strong position to clinch the series win. The fourth Test will be played in Ranchi from February 22nd onwards.
