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Ollie Pope's masterclass has kept his team in contention, as they now hold a lead of 126 runs, instilling a sense of belief that extending it to around 160-170 could be crucial. As Pope walked away, he received handshakes from the Indians, applause from his teammates, and a standing ovation, acknowledging that his innings has propelled the Test into the fourth day. The question arises: could India have performed better? While England displayed resilience, adapting to the slowing pitch and the softening ball, the trio of Indian spinners faced challenges against a barrage of sweeps and reverse sweeps initiated by Duckett and Crawley, and continued by the impressive Ollie Pope.
The diminutive right-hander showcased a sublime innings, filled with positive strokes that disrupted the bowlers' lengths. Ben Foakes played a supporting role, contributing to a 112-run partnership for the 6th wicket. Notably, Pope was given a lifeline on 110 when Axar Patel dropped a catch, and he has capitalized on that opportunity, making India pay for the lapse.
Looking ahead, the question lingers: how much is too much for India? At the moment, they need to secure four more wickets, with the second new ball becoming available soon. The dynamics of this match suggest that the upcoming phase with the new ball could be decisive, as the pitch seems conducive to new-ball bowling. The fate of the match may very well hinge on this crucial phase.
When: January 28, 9:00 AM PST
Where: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, KS Bharat, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, Jack Leach.
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