England Takes Charge on Day 3 of First Test Against India

On Day 3 of the first Test between India and England, Harry Brook's explosive half-century, aided by a dropped catch from Rishabh Pant, shifted the game's momentum. Despite early breakthroughs by Jasprit Bumrah, India's fielding errors allowed England to build a significant partnership, putting them in a strong position. This match continues to unfold with high stakes as both teams vie for dominance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 22, 2025, 19:34 IST

England's Momentum Grows

On the third day of the inaugural Test match between India and England, the visitors appeared to seize control as Harry Brook, currently ranked second in the world, delivered an explosive half-century. This came after he was dropped on 46 runs by India's vice-captain, Rishabh Pant. Jamie Smith was also performing well at the other end, putting India in urgent need of a breakthrough. Following a six on the first ball of the 79th over, Smith narrowly avoided being caught behind on the next delivery. However, Prasidh Krishna, in his 15th over, bowled a short ball outside off stump that led to Smith's dismissal, as Ravindra Jadeja and Sai Sudarshan executed a remarkable catch at the boundary.

Dropped Catch Proves Costly

On this pivotal day, Rishabh Pant missed a crucial catch that could have limited Harry Brook's scoring. The incident occurred during the first ball of the 71st over, bowled by Ravindra Jadeja, when Brook was on 46 runs. This mistake allowed Brook to go on and achieve his 12th Test century, highlighting the risks of giving opportunities to a player of his caliber.

Fielding Mistakes Haunt India

Despite Jasprit Bumrah's early success in dismissing Zak Crawley in the first over, India struggled with fielding errors. Ravindra Jadeja dropped Ben Duckett when he was on 15, marking one of the rare mistakes from the usually reliable fielder. Throughout the session, several straightforward catches and edges were missed, allowing Duckett and Ollie Pope to form a substantial 122-run partnership, which significantly shifted the momentum back in England's favor.