India dominated the morning session of the fourth day in the ongoing second Test, securing a significant advantage by dismissing five English wickets. Their primary focus was on claiming the wicket of opening batsman Zak Crawley, who exhibited controlled aggression and compiled a nearly flawless half-century before falling victim to Kuldeep Yadav.
Recognizing the importance of a breakthrough, Indian captain Rohit Sharma turned to Kuldeep just before lunch, and the wrist-spinner delivered by dismissing Crawley for 73. Kuldeep’s leg break, delivered over the wicket, angled away from the batter. Crawley attempted to whip the ball away from his legs, but it kept low, striking his pad. Initially, the umpire rejected the LBW appeal, and Rohit, displaying a lack of enthusiasm, seemed to accept the decision.
Review…..successful! ✅☝️
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 5, 2024
Kuldeep Yadav picks up the big wicket of Crawley to keep #TeamIndia in the driving seat 👊⚡️#BazBowled #IDFCFirstBankTestsSeries #JioCinemaSports#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/c4hMunPVSP
In a turn of events, Kuldeep persuaded Rohit to take a review just before time ran out. The captain, with seconds to spare, agreed. Upon review, Hawkeye confirmed that the ball was indeed hitting the leg-stump, prompting jubilation throughout the Indian team. Crawley’s dismissal dealt a severe blow to England’s aspirations, occurring just before the lunch break on Day 4.
Adding to England’s woes, Jasprit Bumrah further capitalized on India’s momentum, trapping Jonny Bairstow in front of the wicket with a nip-backer. This additional wicket reduced the visitors to 194/6 in pursuit of the challenging target of 399. As the lunch break approached, India found themselves firmly in control, having strategically dismantled England’s batting lineup and strengthened their position in the second Test.
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