England were comfortably placed at 225 for two at stumps after bowling out India for 358 on the second day of the fourth Test in Manchester on Thursday.
After hundreds upon hundreds of runs on flat tracks in the ongoing series so far, it took the green top at The Oval to finally produce the best day of the Indian summer, on the fifth and last Friday of the Test series.
Opener K L Rahul expressed disappointment as India failed to gain a lead against England on Day 3 of the third Test of the five-match series at 'Home of Cricket', Lord's, on Saturday.
There is less seam movement at Edgbaston compared to Leeds: Jaiswal
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.
Shubman Gill walked out at Edgbaston with questions swirling around his captaincy - and answered them with his bat
'It felt like you had to force the ball through, which in England were are not used to -- you usually get rewards for your cuts and clips.'
I would hope that India stick by him, at least another couple of games, just to give him a run at No.3, feels former England captain Michael Vaughan.
Pant's effort earned accolades from Tendulkar, who lauded the wicketkeeper-batter's paddle sweep.
Images from Day 5 of the third Test between England and India at Lord's on Monday.
England stayed calm under intense pressure to beat India by 22 runs on a final day of simmering tension and drama in the third Test at Lord's on Monday and move 2-1 up in the series.
Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar struck unbeaten centuries as India staged a superb fightback on the final day to draw the fourth Test against England.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain was full of praise for Akash Deep
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.
It's unbelievable because I was waiting for a long time: Siraj on his six-wicket haul
Shubman Gill on Sunday criticised the rapidly deteriorating quality of the Dukes ball and expressed his dissatisfaction with the trend of flat pitches
'The more you bat in England, the better it is because you never feel you are set in England.'
Joe Root produced a batting masterclass on way to a milestone 38th hundred as England exploited a jaded Indian bowling attack to stamp their dominance on the fourth Test in Manchester.
Shubman Gill putting up a batting masterclass on a good pitch reflected his supreme confidence as India's new Test captain, senior spinner Ravindra Jadeja said on Thursday.
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.
Akash Deep dedicated his stellar performance in the second Test to his sister, who has been battling cancer for the past two months.
Nitish Kumar Reddy made a promise to himself post the Australia tour that he would improve his bowling.
'If you get to the point where you can draw the game, of course, we're not stupid enough to think that you have to just win or lose.'
True to form, Pant brought up his seventh Test hundred in the most Pant-esque way possible, with a soaring one-handed six off Shoaib Bashir. A
Woakes was angry that Jadeja again ran on the danger area. Jadeja pointed out saying he was on one side. Stokes was not happy, he walked up to the spot and stood there.
The third Twenty20 International between South Africa and India was halted early in the home side's reply after a wave of flying ants descended on Centurion Park in Pretoria on Wednesday and forced the players from the field.
In summary, excluding the inactive innings, his recent conversion record reads rather poor with no half-centuries since his eminent legendary debut knock.
Former cricketers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton lampooned England's top order for their early collapse
Fired-up England reduced India to 58/4 chasing 193 for victory in a highly-charged final session on day four on Sunday as a gripping third Test at Lord's.
Post-lunch, Pant brought up his half-century with a single before launching his third maximum, cementing his reputation as one of the game's most fearless stroke-makers in red-ball cricket.
India equal England's first-innings score of 387 with Test in balance
In vintage Bumrah fashion, the damage was quiet but clinical and unmistakably game-changing.
'Hussain was baffled by England's top three approach on Edgbaston's flat surface when the ball was slightly swinging.
'I just think we'll find another way to do it.'
Selected at number three ahead of the burgeoning talent of Jacob Bethell, who averaged 52 on his first Test tour of New Zealand, Pope settled after early scares to compile his ninth Test century.
Led by Shubman Gill, a defiant India put on a mentally strong and technically disciplined response to keep the series alive with England 2-1 up. While there were plenty of positives to take forward, a few concerns continue to linger as the series heads to a decider at The Oval.
India's experienced opener KL Rahul expressed admiration for vice-captain Rishabh Pant and his dream to replicate the dynamic southpaw's play style following their record-breaking exploits on Day 3 of the third Test against England at Lord's.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was "disappointed" on missing a century by a whisker, but amazed by Test captain Shubman Gill's "incredible" effort that powered India to a comfortable position at the end of the opening day of the second Test against England, at Edgbaston, on Wednesday.
Washington Sundar's double strike pegged England back in the afternoon session, leaving them struggling 175/6 at tea on Day 4 of the third Test, at Lord's.
Former England batter Jonathan Trott impressed by India skipper's Gill's poise on Day 1 of 2nd Test.
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