Mark Wood shone on his recall but a whole lot from India captain Rohit Sharma and hometown hero Ravindra Jadeja blunted England’s charge on the opening day of the third Test.
Omitted in Visakhapatnam, where the hosts levelled the series at 1-1, Wood rewarded England’s gamble to pick two seamers for the primary time this tour by finding the sides of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill as India stumbled to 33 for 3.
But Joe Root’s drop to reprieve Rohit on 27 was a sliding doors moment because the opener added one other 104 before falling to Wood, who finished with three for 69 and ran out the energetic Sarfaraz Khan on debut.
Jadeja made a princely 110 not out on his return from a hamstring injury but England may need snared each centurions had they reviewed shortly before they reached three figures on a chastening day which finished with India on 326 for five.
Despite Ben Stokes calling incorrectly on the toss on his a centesimal Test, the early morning moisture aided England’s bowlers they usually capitalised by leaving India three down contained in the first nine overs.
As temperatures rose in Gujarat and the pitch steadily flattened out, Rohit, Jadeja then Sarfaraz, who contributed 62 off just 66 balls, helped India wrestle control as they added 151 within the last session.
England’s quicks shared new-ball duties and were punished for overpitching but Wood adjusted and gained some extra bounce and a touch of movement as he angled across Jaiswal, a double centurion in Vizag who made 10 as a tentative poke caught the sting and was wolfed up by Root at first slip.
Gill looked ill-at-ease and departed for a nine-ball duck in Wood’s next over after playing contained in the line and nicking off, having been beaten through the gate by the previous delivery.
When Tom Hartley found grip and switch from an innocuous length in his first over, Rajat Patidar miscued to cover on five.
Jadeja was shuffled up one place to spare Sarfaraz a baptism of fireside however the debutant may need walked in with India on 47 for 4 had a diving Root held on when Rohit edged an attempted flick off Hartley.
Root’s drop seemed inconsequential when Rohit was given lbw off James Anderson three balls later but an inside edge saw the choice overturned. Having been sconed on the grill by a spiteful Wood lifter and left needing treatment after inside edging on to his thigh, Rohit was struggling but hanging in there.
Because the surface became more docile under the beating hot sun, he and Jadeja made hay either side of lunch, with Rohit surviving a decent lbw call on 49 to maneuver to his first Test 50 in nine innings.
He forged off the shackles by depositing each Hartley and Root over long-on as England toiled without reward in a wicketless middle session.
A sinking feeling could have pervaded for the tourists after they did not review a muted lbw appeal when Rohit missed a sweep on 87. While the ball may need brushed Rohit’s glove, it definitely thudded into his forearm and would have gone on to crash into leg stump.
Third umpire Rod Tucker was spared a tough decision and Rohit brought up his century after tea before seeking to turn the screw, perishing when a full-blooded heave took a top-edge and was caught by Stokes. The Durham pair celebrated wildly after ending a 204-run union however it was temporary respite.
Jadeja was strong throughout the wicket and particularly off his hips, getting a short-arm pull off Wood to go the space, before offering his first likelihood on 93. Hartley appeared to beat the within edge with one which skidded on and the ball would have gone on to clatter middle stump.
Sarfaraz, who was drafted in for his international bow with a lofty first-class average of 69.85, poured salt into the wound as India moved through the gears. The 26-year-old was not overawed by the occasion, handling England’s spinners with ease and driving superbly.
He moved briskly to a 48-ball 50 but he was left high and dry when his partner was on 99. Setting off for a single which might have taken Jadeja to 3 figures, Sarfaraz was sent back and left well wanting his crease following Wood’s direct hit.
There have been muted celebrations when Jadeja reached his hundred just before stumps but his contribution helped India gain control.
For exclusive stories and all of the detailed cricket news you would like, subscribe to The Cricket Paper website from as little as 14p a day.
