Day 3 of the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford in Manchester sees England in a commanding position, looking to capitalize on their strong performance on Day 2. After India posted 358 in their first innings, England ended the day at 225/2, trailing by just 133 runs.
England's dominance on Day 2 was built on a formidable 166-run opening partnership between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. The duo took the Indian bowlers to task, scoring at a rapid pace of 4.89 runs per over. India's bowling unit, led by Jasprit Bumrah, struggled to make an impact, claiming only two wickets. Debutant Anshul Kamboj managed to grab his maiden Test wicket, dismissing Duckett for 94, while Ravindra Jadeja removed Crawley for 84.
The day began with England winning the toss and electing to field. India's innings saw contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal (58), KL Rahul (46) and Sai Sudharsan (61). Rishabh Pant also displayed resilience, scoring a brave 54 despite a fractured toe. However, England's Ben Stokes led the bowling attack, claiming his first five-wicket haul in eight years and helping to dismiss India for 358.
As Day 3 begins, England's Ollie Pope (20) and Joe Root (11) are at the crease, looking to build on the foundation laid by the openers. For India, the focus will be on early breakthroughs to regain control of the match. The IndianExpress noted that the key for India will be to break the Pope-Root partnership early to prevent England from taking a significant lead.
Several factors contributed to England's strong position. The sunny conditions on Day 2 made the pitch favorable for batting, allowing the ball to come nicely onto the bat. The Indian pacers struggled to find the right lines and lengths, often straying and offering loose deliveries that Duckett and Crawley were quick to punish.
According to Google, England has a 71% chance of winning the fourth Test match, while India's win probability stands at just 10%. There's also a 19% chance of the match ending in a draw.
This fourth Test is a crucial encounter in the five-match series, which is part of the 2025-2027 ICC World Test Championship. England has already won the toss and elected to field.
