Tensions flared in the Indian camp on Day 3 of the fourth Test as Ravindra Jadeja openly reprimanded young debutant Anshul Kamboj for a costly fielding lapse that allowed Joe Root a crucial reprieve. The incident, which unfolded during the 54th over of England’s innings, added to India`s frustration as the visitors failed to break the resolve of Root and Ollie Pope in the morning session.
England were in a commanding position at lunch, reaching 332 for two, just 26 runs behind India’s first-innings score of 358. Root, unbeaten on 63, and Pope, on a well-compiled 70, had added 135 runs for the third wicket without offering the bowlers a clear opportunity. But one chance did present itself, and India failed to capitalise.
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The moment came when Root steered a delivery from Mohammed Siraj towards the gully region. The fielder there got a hand to it, slightly slowing the ball down, before Jadeja collected it and fired a throw at the stumps. Root, well short of his ground, would have been run out had someone been backing up. But there was no one near the stumps. The ball rolled past the target, and Kamboj, stationed at mid-on, had to chase it down and retrieve it.
Jadeja was visibly furious with the young pacer. According to the team’s fielding setup, Kamboj should have been backing up the throw near the stumps, and his absence cost India a golden opportunity to dismiss the in-form Root. Jadeja didn’t hide his displeasure, making his frustration known in full view of the cameras.
This misfield only added to India’s woes on a morning dominated by England. Root, who resumed the day on 11, used the reprieve to further solidify England’s grip on the match. In doing so, he etched another chapter in his illustrious career by overtaking Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis to move into third place on the all-time list of Test run-scorers.
The 34-year-old, playing his 157th Test, now trails only Ricky Ponting (13,378 runs) and Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) in the pantheon of Test greats, both of whom have retired. Root’s composed knock was complemented by Pope, who resumed on 20 and batted fluently throughout the session.
England had resumed the day at 225 for two, buoyed by an explosive 166-run opening stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett on Day 2. With the pitch flattening and India’s bowlers struggling to find rhythm, the hosts appear poised to take a first-innings lead, and with it, a stranglehold on the match.
