Day 3 of the fourth Test between India and England was all about English dominance, driven by a record-breaking century from Joe Root and powerful top-order partnerships. By stumps, England had surged to a massive 544/7, leading India by 186 runs, leaving the visitors under immense pressure with two days still to play.
Joe Root, England’s batting maestro, delivered yet another masterclass, scoring a sublime century that not only pushed England into a commanding position but also elevated him to second on the all-time Test run-scorers list, surpassing legends like Jacques Kallis and Rahul Dravid. This innings marked Root’s 38th Test hundred, underscoring his status as one of the greatest modern-day Test batters.
Openers Shine: Zak Crawley (84) and Ben Duckett (94) gave England a blistering start, sharing a 166-run opening partnership that immediately neutralized India’s first-innings total of 358.
Following the openers’ dismissal, Root joined forces with Ollie Pope (71) to pile on the runs, adding 135 runs for the third wicket. Their steady accumulation frustrated Indian bowlers, who struggled to find breakthroughs.
England captain Ben Stokes looked threatening with a counter-attacking 66 but was forced to retire hurt due to severe cramps.
India’s bowling attack looked blunt and depleted. Key pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were dealing with injuries, forcing India to rely heavily on spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. While the duo managed to claim some wickets, they lacked the penetration to disrupt England’s scoring flow.
Missed chances and inconsistent fielding further compounded India’s woes. On a flat pitch with little assistance, England’s batters took complete control, rotating strike effortlessly and punishing loose deliveries.
Day 3 Key Moments
Crawley & Duckett’s Dominance: The opening stand set the tone, erasing India’s lead in quick time.
Root’s Milestone Century: A flawless innings featuring crisp drives and calculated aggression.
Stokes’ Retirement: A slight hiccup for England as the skipper limped off, but the middle order ensured continued momentum.
England hold all the cards going into Day 4. With a lead of 186 and still three wickets in hand, they are likely to aim for a total lead of 250–300 runs, enough to put India out of the contest.
England already lead the series 2–1 and are now in pole position to clinch the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with a win in this Test. For India, it’s now about survival, pride, and keeping the series alive by forcing a draw.
Day 3 at Old Trafford will be remembered for Joe Root’s historic milestone and England’s near-flawless batting display. India’s bowlers toiled hard but lacked firepower due to injuries. As things stand, England are favorites to wrap up the match and the series, unless India produce a heroic fightback over the next two days.
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