Against All Odds India Bounced Back Strongly

India was 2-0 down before the 3rd Test. Former players were criticizing them for not showing enough promises against the swinging balls especially in the second Test where India was completely outplayed by England and faced a heavy defeat of an innings and 159-runs.

Not every time a team is able to bounce back after losing first two Test but the way India did bounce back, was something remarkable. They not only won the match but they opened up this 5-match Test series nicely. They handed England a massive 203-runs defeat on Wednesday, August 22 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.



The win was scripted with some brilliant performances. First, a massive partnership between Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane in the first innings that helped India to recover from 83 for 3. Virat Kohli (97) missed out his century but his knock along with Rahane (82) helped India to reach 329.

Though India's first inning score wasn't a huge one hence skipper Virat Kohli was needed his bowlers to bowl their heart out. Hardik Pandya whose all-around ability was questioned before this Test proved India's stand out bowler. His ran through England's batting line-up with career-best 5-28. His first 5-for in Test scripted England's collapsed in only one session who bundled out on 161. India got a huge lead of 167.

After first innings of each team, India had clearly an advantage and they tightened the screws with a sublime hundred from Virat Kohli (103) who missed out in the first innings along with the fifties from Cheteshwar Pujara (72), Hardik Pandya (52). India declared their innings on 352 for 7 and set a total of 521 to win for England with two full days to go.



Because the target for England was a huge one to chase so the question was, can England save this Test?. They might have thought but Ishant Sharma had some other plans who dismissed both the openers cheaply. Joe Root and Ollie Pope tried to show some resistance but Bumrah and Shami got them out with the help of brilliant catching from Rahul and Kohli. England was lost their 4 wickets on just 62. After 4 wickets the match was looking to finish on day 4 but this was the time when Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes put their hands up and put on a mammoth 169 for the fifth wicket. Buttler got his maiden Test century (106) while Stokes scored 62.

When Buttler and Stokes were frustrating India in their long partnership then India take new ball after 80 overs and third over of the new ball, Bumrah got Buttler and Jonny Bairstow on successive balls. In his next over, he grabbed Chris Woakes (4). Pandya in next over, dismissed Stokes and England suddenly reduced to 241 for 8 from 231 for 4. The damage had already been done but Adil Rashid and Stuart Broad still weren't ready to put their hands down and got a fifty runs partnership for the 9th wicket. Bumrah completed his second 5-for in Test after dismissing Broad on 20.

However, Rashid and James Anderson negated India to win in the 4th day only to frustrate India. However, it took only 17 balls to India in the 5th day to got England's last wicket when Ashwin claimed his first wicket of the match by dismissing Anderson. India cursed England by 203-runs.



It was a comeback of the highest quality when so many outstanding performances were responsible for that. Virat Kohli led from the front with his 23rd Test ton it could have been his 24th if he hadn't missed in the first innings. Pandya could able to shut the mouth of critics with his maiden 5-for and 52 runs knock in the second innings. Bumrah put another match-winning a performance with a 5-wicket haul in the second innings.

The series is nicely poised with 2-1 in favor of England with 2 matches more to go. The third Test will be played from August 30 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton.

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