Jadeja, Rahul carry India to first innings lead

While the rain continued to play spoil-sport, India climbed into the ascendency in the 1^st Test against England at Trent Bridge after taking a 95-run lead in the first innings. KL Rahul (84) carried his form from Day 2 and put together a good partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (56) before India’s tail made some crucial contributions to take the visitors to a first innings score of 278. Ollie Robinson was the pick of the bowlers for England and registered the first 5-wicket haul of his career, while Jimmy Anderson finished with four scalps which took him past Anil Kumble as the third-highest wicket-taker in Test history.

There were some fireworks to start the day, with Rishabh Pant continuing his aggressive approach in the morning session. Pant managed to find few boundaries but his stay at the crease was short-lived, with the left-hander chipping a delivery from Ollie Robinson straight to short-extra cover to depart for 25.

Despite losing Pant early on, Jadeja steadied the ship alongside Rahul and played a couple of elegant drives to take India into the lead in the Test match. 

Rahul was afforded another life with Joe Root spilling a chance at second slip, but the Indian opener couldn’t make the most of his good fortune and eventually fell 16 runs short of his century on his return to the Indian team. Anderson struck again one over later to remove Shardul Thakur, leaving Ravindra Jadeja to bat with the tail with only a lead of 22 runs.

The all-rounder took charge following Anderson’s double strike and reached his half-century after hitting a towering six off Anderson. However, in the quest for quick runs, Jadeja gifted his wicket to Ollie Robinson after miscuing a slog.

India’s tail hasn’t scored plenty of runs in Tests in recent times, but India’s last three wickets managed to put on 73 runs on this occasion after some vital contributions from Shami, Bumrah and Siraj to provide a significant boost to India’s total. India were nearing a three-figure lead with the tail-enders continuing to frustrate England, but Robinson eventually ended their misery and removed Bumrah to pick up his first Test five-wicket haul.

With the ball, Virat Kohli opted to open with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj and both bowlers were on the money from ball one, zeroing on that perfect line and length. However, to their credit, openers Dom Sibley and Rory Burns weathered the storm and added 25 to the scoreboard before the skies opened up once again to end the day early.