Earlier, Ashwin had jolted England with twin strikes in the 2nd session after Dhruv Jurel staged an impressive fightback for India in MS Dhoni’s den on Sunday. Breaking Anil Kumble’s record, Ashwin picked up his 350th Test wicket to become the highest wicket-taker in India. The spinner is also the first Indian to take 100-plus wickets against England and Australia in Tests.

With Rohit Sharma’s Team India on the back foot, wicketkeeper-batter Jurel steered the ship of the hosts through choppy waters with his brilliant 90-run knock on Day 3 of the 4th Test at JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. Kuldeep (17 off 72 balls) and Jurel (30 off 58 deliveries) resumed the Indian innings on the opening session of the Ranchi Test. Spinner Shoaib Bashir picked up his first-ever five-wicket haul to rattle India as the hosts posted 307 in 103.2 overs before Lunch. In-form Yashasvi Jaiswal (73) and Jurel’s career-best score trimmed England’s lead to 46 runs in the first session.

Jurel and Kuldeep held fort through the final hour of play yesterday, as India had reached 219/7 at Stumps. India faced early setbacks in the third and final session of Day 2 as Jaiswal, who had been the most promising of all batters in the innings, fell to Shoaib Bashir as the spinner castled him on 73. Sarfaraz, too, followed suit a few overs later, as he could only score 14 off 53 balls. Tom Hartley dismissed the young batter and followed it up with another wicket in the 56th over, dismissing Ravichandran Ashwin for 1.

India lost Rohit Sharma early but Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill looked almost untroubled either side of Lunch. The pair put up 82 runs for the second wicket with Gill upping the ante after Lunch. Shoaib Bashir broke the stand by sending Gill back on 38. Bashir then went on to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja and soon got the wicket of Jaiswal himself to complete his maiden Test four-wicket haul.

Joe Root and Ollie Robinson dominated the first half an hour with India looking rather deflated in that period. The eighth-wicket stand between Root and Robinson reached 102 runs in 163 balls, with the latter scoring 58 off 96. Jadeja finally got the breakthrough for India in the form of Robinson’s wicket, after he which he got one more wicket in the same over. James Anderson fell soon thereafter and Ravindra Jadeja finished with four wickets. Root was unbeaten on 122 off 274 and England were all out for 353.

Akash Deep enjoyed a memorable debut by dismantling England’s top order in the first session on Day 1, giving India an early upper hand. The spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja struck in quick succession before Lunch, further bolstering India’s dominance. England found themselves in trouble at 112/5, but Root and Foakes steadied the ship with a resilient partnership after Lunch, marking the first session in this series without losing a wicket. Their partnership exceeded 100 runs, and although they accelerated after tea, Siraj’s fiery spell saw the dismissal of Foakes and Hartley, swinging the momentum back towards India.

Mohammed Siraj struck the breakthrough in the final session of Day 1, as he dismissed Ben Foakes on 47 to end a gritty 113-run stand for the sixth wicket. Root and Foakes kept the aggressive ‘Bazball’ style of batting in the backburner and their resistance seemed to have frustrated India with a lot of frowning faces towards the end of that session and Rohit Sharma burning their last remaining review for an LBW decision against Foakes.

Earlier, pacer Akash Deep has made a dream debut to his Test career, taking three wickets in his first six overs and leaving England reeling after they won the toss and chose to bat. England eventually lost half their batting lineup in the first session with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin taking a wicket each before Lunch.

Akash Deep replaced the rested Jasprit Bumrah and has been almost unplayable in the early part of the first session. He knocked Zak Crawley over in his second over but it turned out that he had overstepped, thus giving the batter a lifeline. He then took the wickets of Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope shortly thereafter and then smashed Crawley’s off stump. This time, it was a legitimate delivery and Crawley had to walk. England captain Ben Stokes earlier said that spinner Rehan, who has been their highest wicket-taker thus far in this series, has gone back home for personal reasons and will not return for the rest of the series.

Ranchi plays host for the decisive fourth Test between India and England. India currently lead the five-match series 2-1 and a win here for the hosts would mark the end of England’s quest to prevent Rohit Sharma’s side from winning yet another Test series at home. On the other hand if England do manage to win it, the series goes back to level-pegging at 2-2 and sets up an exciting finale in Dharamsala.

Smarting from their record defeat by 434 runs in Rajkot, England have brought in seamer Robinson and spinner Shoaib Bashir, replacing Mark Wood and Rehan Ahmed. The shellacking also prompted questions about England’s ultra-aggressive approach, which many feel borders on recklessness. England captain Ben Stokes, who is tipped to resume bowling in this match following knee surgery last November, has brushed aside the backlash. The look of the pitch in Ranchi was a greater concern for the 32-year-old as he plots ways to keep England alive in the series.

Here are some key takeaways from India vs England 4th Test:

– India reach 40/0 at Stumps on Day 3, with Rohit Sharma (24*) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (16*) making a solid start

– Ravichandran Ashwin picks his 35th five-wicket haul in Test cricket

– England bowled out for 145, set India a 192-run target

–England opener Zak Crawley scored his 13th half-century before Tea.

–Ravichandran Ashwin surpassed legendary spinner Anil Kumble with his record 350th Test wicket in India.

-Dhruv Jurel’s 90-run knock lifted India to 307 in the 1st innings on Lunch.

–Dhruv Jurel scored maiden half-century in 1st session on Day 3.

– Shubman Gill scored 38 off 65 but he fell with the stand with Jaiswal.

– India lost Rohit Sharma early but Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal steadied the ship

– Joe Root finished unbeaten on 122 as England were all out for 353

– Joe Root smashed his 31st century, and his tenth against India

– Joe Root and Ben Foakes ensured that England don’t lose a single wicket throughout the second session after losing five in the first

– Joe Root and Ben Foakes’ partnership stood at 86 off 221 at the end of the second session

– Root scored his first half-century of the series

– Akash Deep took three wickets in a fiery seven-over opening spell

– Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja also chipped away towards the end of the first session

– England were 112/5 in 24.1 overs at Lunch

– England have brought in Ollie Robinson for the first time in the series

– India could be without Jasprit Bumrah

– Akash Deep is in line to make his international debut

– India could seal a series victory if they win the Ranchi Test