Captain Shubman Gill and the ever-dependable K L Rahul gave India a glimmer of hope with resilient half-centuries after a well crafted hundred from Ben Stokes extended England's supremacy in the fourth Test in Manchester on Saturday.
K L Rahul drove his way to a sublime 47 after England negated India's advantage by totalling 465 in their first innings as the visitors had another ordinary day in the field on Day 3 of the first Test in Leeds on Sunday.
'Ideally we would have wanted about 40 runs more'.
England skipper Ben Stokes and right-arm seamer Brydon Carse are unlikely to feature in the upcoming Test series against India and the Ashes as they are still recovering from injuries.
Ben Stokes was ruled out due to a shoulder muscle tear.
India crushed England by 336 runs to level the series at 1-1 on Sunday
In summary, excluding the inactive innings, his recent conversion record reads rather poor with no half-centuries since his eminent legendary debut knock.
England replace Shoaib Bashir with Liam Dawson in playing XI for 4th Test against India
Gill and Jaiswal centuries put India in control of series opener against England
India's Bumrah produced a devastating spell in the morning, dismissing Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Chris Woakes before Archer struck with his third delivery to remove Yashasvi Jaiswal in his first test for four years.
An injury-plagued India could be forced to depart from their preferred template when they takes on a reinvigorated England in the fourth Test starting in Manchester on Wednesday.
England head coach Brendon McCullum believes India have arrived well-prepared and full of belief for the upcoming five-match Test series
KL Rahul becomes second India batter after Vengsarkar to score more than one Test ton at Lord's
Images from Day 5 of the third Test between England and India at Lord's on Monday.
Ben Stokes, the man who had earlier lit up the field with a sensational century, didn't bowl a single over.
Former captain Michael Vaughan feels England panicked on the final day of the fifth Test against India in the absence of inspirational skipper Ben Stokes.
Former England batter Jonathan Trott impressed by India skipper's Gill's poise on Day 1 of 2nd Test.
Ravi Shastri picked Rishabh Pant's dismissal in the first innings and Karun Nair's wicket in the second essay as the key moments that tilted the third Test at Lord's in England's favour.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the third Test match, played between England and India at Lord's, London, on Saturday.
India finished day three of the second Test on 64/1 to lead England by 244 runs after they dismissed the hosts for 407 in the first innings at Edgbaston on Friday.
Sai Sudharsan made the opportunity count in his comeback game with a fifty while Rishabh Pant suffered another injury as India played the old-fashioned way to reach 264 for four at stumps on Day 1 of the fourth Test in Manchester on Wednesday.
KL Rahul and Shubman Gill stood tall, not with fireworks, but with grit and grace, forging a 174-run stand that reminded fans of the game's old soul - and drew admiration from the likes of Sanjay Manjrekar.
Walking out with intent and flair, the wicketkeeper-batter smashed a quickfire 51 off just 56 deliveries in the morning session, propelling England to a strong 387.
Another India lower-order collapse gave England a fighting chance of a thrilling victory in the first Test at Headingley on Monday, with the hosts 21/0 in their second innings at the close of play on day four, chasing 371 to win.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the 1st Test between England and India at Headingley in Leeds on Monday.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 1st Test between England and India at Headingley in Leeds on Friday
This series begins a potentially era-defining period for Stokes and England coach Brendon McCullum, having enjoyed plenty of highs and lows over the past few years, with the Ashes series in Australia next up in the Test format, starting in November.
British media reports said all 10 English players involved with the IPL will hold a meeting with the Professional Cricketers' Association over security arrangements for a potential return to India.
Jofra Archer will play his first Test in more than four years as he replaces fellow seamer Josh Tongue for the third Test at Lord's.
Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his meteoric rise in international cricket with yet another outstanding overseas tour
This was India's seventh defeat in their last nine matches as their poor run in Test cricket continues following successive series defeats against New Zealand at home and in Australia.
'Watching him bat this innings is like watching the MCC coaching manual in action.'
Atherton reckons that in his three years at the helm, the series against India is Stokes' sternest test of leadership qualities.
India equal England's first-innings score of 387 with Test in balance
The record was previously held by West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran (592 runs in 20 matches).
As Team India gear up for the much-anticipated Test series against England starting on Friday, several players in the squad will draw confidence from their county cricket experience.
Karun Nair has got starts in majority of his six innings in England but he has not been able to convert them into something substantial.
A dominant India hammered England by 150 runs to claim the five-match series 4-1.
Who do you think should be part of the Indian team for the fifth Test against England?
India finished Day 3 on 90/2 to lead England by 96 runs at stumps in the opening Test on Sunday after England were dismissed for 465 in the first innings.
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