Speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’ after the conclusion of Day 1 of the third Test between India and England, JioHotstar expert Anil Kumble reviewed how the match unfolded on a challenging surface for batters:”It was evident right from the start that it was going to be a grind for the batters. The openers struggled to score off the new ball, and this was the kind of pitch where you had to work hard for your runs. I thought the Indian bowlers bowled really good areas consistently — that’s one of the reasons India managed to restrict England to 251. England will be fairly satisfied with just four wickets down. I do think India missed a trick after Jadeja got that breakthrough — I was surprised he didn’t continue bowling to Ben Stokes and changed ends instead. India will probably reflect tonight and feel that one or two more wickets could have put the match firmly in their favour. As it stands, it’s evenly poised.”JioHotstar expert Jonathan Trott analysed England’s changing approach with the bat:“It was an interesting day, starting right from the toss. England took a different approach compared to the first two Tests. I thought Ollie Pope came out in typical ‘Bazball’ style — attacking early — but quickly realised that this wasn’t that kind of pitch. Credit to him for adjusting his game. We also saw Joe Root look fluent — a beautiful cover drive and a clip through mid-wicket off Siraj stood out. Once he got going, it felt like he’d bat deep. I thought England might go after Jadeja in the final over of the day, but sense prevailed, especially with Ben Stokes carrying a bit of a niggle.”Kumble broke down India’s disciplined bowling spells and key moments:“I was surprised at how well Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled. He consistently hit the right areas. That short ball down leg side was a gift, but otherwise, he was disciplined. His delivery to Zak Crawley was a beauty. Sometimes, when you’re out of form, things don’t go your way — and Crawley found that out. Dhruv Jurel’s catch was outstanding. Jadeja was probing that line before tea, and first ball after tea he struck. And then, of course, you can’t keep Jasprit Bumrah out of the game. He bowled beautifully and picked up a crucial wicket. It’s hard to imagine an innings where Bumrah doesn’t have a say.”Kumble praised Nitish Kumar Reddy as a promising all-round option for India:“I thought he did quite well in Australia — got a hundred with the bat and bowled decently even if he didn’t take many wickets. What you need from someone like him is to break partnerships and give the fast bowlers a breather while still maintaining control. He bowled nearly 14 overs in a spell — that shows fitness and control. He’s young, he’s a capable batter with a century under his belt, and he’s a sharp fielder. India should persist with him and avoid the temptation to chop and change.”Kumble assessed India’s Day 2 objectives with the new ball:“Restricting England to under 300 — ideally under 320 — would be a fantastic result for India. That would mean they’ve done a solid job in the first innings. The key will be how they start with the new ball. If India can pick up a couple of quick wickets early in the morning, the momentum will swing back. But if England manage to get off to a steady start, India will have to work really hard.”Catch Day 2 of the third Test of India’s tour of England, today at 3:30 PM, live on JioHotstar.
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