Ranchi Test: Dhruv Jurel Shines As India Comeback Strongly To Win By 5 Wickets
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
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By Linus Garg
First publised on 2024-02-26 15:39:31
About the Author
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
View all posts by this Author
In one of the better rearguard actions in recent times, Team India turned the tide and won the Ranchi Test by five wickets in the second session of the fourth day. With this, India have taken an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series and maintained their decade-long unbeaten record at home.
This was a wonderful test match played on an enigmatic pitch which showed different temperament each day and also in each session. After Joe Root shunned bazball for once and came back into roaring form with a brilliant century to anchor England's first innings and take them to a commanding total of 353 and India quickly slipped to 177 for 7 and ended at 219 for 7 on the second day, it seemed that like Hyderabad, another pitch tailored for home team spinners had handed the advantage to visiting spinners instead.
But on day 3, Dhruv Jurel, in the company of a resolute Kuldeep Yadav, took the total to 307 and England could only manage a lead of 46 runs. Jurel, who unleashed a flurry of strokes after Yadav was out, was distinctly unlucky to get out at 90 and miss his maiden ton. India had made a strong recovery and was back in them match.
What happened next was unbelievable. The pitch suddenly started talking and the England batters feared demons. Ashwin took two wickets in an over to reduce them to 19 for 2 and despite a flamboyant innings of 60 runs from Zak Crawley and rearguard action by Jonny Baistow (30), they never recovered were bowled out for just 145 runs, setting India a target of just 192 to win the Test and the series. Ashwin ended with 5 for 51 and Kuldeep took 4 for 22.
On day 3, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal started the chase in a positive frame of mind and India rushed to 40 without loss in eight overs at the end of play. But the fourth day held more mystery as Jaiswal went early and when India slumped to 120 for 5 in 38 overs with Sharma, Patidar (who failed yet again, putting a question mark about his place in the team), Jadeja and Sarfaraz Khan back in the pavilion, England were back in the game. But then Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel showed class and temperament as they weathered the spin havoc unleashed by Bashir, Hartley and Root to patiently carve out a famous win by 5 wickets.
Dhruv Jurel, playing in just his second Test, was named Player of the Match for his impressive 90 in the first innings and the patient 39 not out in the second.
