With one Test won by each team, the five-match Test series involving India and England is currently in a perfect balance. In the opening Test match, England shocked India by defeating the hosts in the second innings to take a 1-0 lead.
India learned a valuable lesson from that defeat, and they responded well by mounting a valiant comeback to tie the series in Visakhapatnam. The teams arrived in Rajkot, where the third Test would be played, following a little break after the first two Tests to spend time with their family.
India vs England – Rajkot, 2016
When England visited Rajkot on their 2016 tour of India, they played a Test match in Rajkot. After winning the toss, England chose to bat first and, with hundreds from Ben Stokes and Joe Root, put on 547 in the opening innings.
India’s first-inning total of 488 was achieved thanks to hundreds from Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara. Alastair Cook, the captain of England, scored 130 runs in the second innings as his team reached 260 for 3. India found themselves 118 for five at one point. But they rallied to force a draw with the efforts of Virat Kohli along with Ravindra Jadeja.
India vs England – 3rd Test, Rajkot – Pitch Report
This type of pitch at the SCA stadium in Rajkot will work better for Team India. India is better suited to play on such wickets that will deteriorate to favour the spinners after Day 3. Conversely, rank turners will only force England to play a bigger role in the game.
For the very first time during the series, there will be runs on the SCA stadium surface. Only when the pitch is properly utilised for two days will fast bowlers and spinners relish bowling on this surface. Here, teams who win the toss would prefer to bat first since the fourth innings might be challenging to chase.
Fans react to viral pictures of Rajkot pitch ahead of 3rd Test between Team India and England: –
A perfect flat pitch at Rajkot for the 3rd Test. [Gaurav Gupta from TOI] pic.twitter.com/0EH021lsXG
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 14, 2024
What?
Ab toss mat haar jana, England wale 2 din tak sweep aur reverse sweep marate rahenge?
— Varun Giri (@Varungiri0) February 14, 2024
Bowlers after watching Rajkot Flat Pitch#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/BunAP5Pcaz
— IPL Scoop (@Ipl_scoop) February 14, 2024
To Improve Rohit Sharma average after continuous Failures??
Shameless— Praneeth (@fantasy_d11) February 14, 2024
Shubman Gill. pic.twitter.com/1y59kL2EMf
— Kunal Yadav (@Kunal_KLR) February 14, 2024
It's Called Paata Pitch
Batsman ke Liye Swarg hai
Bowler ke Nark hai
…Test me aisi pitch hona nhi chahiye
Atleast bat ? & Ball ? ke Beech me kuch contest me hona chahiyeYe toh One sided Batting Paradise hai….
— Ajay Gautam (@gautam_ajay007) February 14, 2024
What if Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma failed on this pitch?
— Satya Prakash (@Satya_Prakash08) February 14, 2024
No it's not perfect ?
— Pawan Kumar ?? (@Prince11R) February 14, 2024
Flat means again a Batting Wicket
— Mr.Cricket360™ (@MrCricket360TM) February 14, 2024
It should have been rank turner ????
— The Random Guy (@RandomTheGuy_) February 14, 2024
Rohit sharma century confirm ?
— Pinkmann (@kohlixpinkman) February 14, 2024
Best Wishes for team india
— Mr.khan514 (@MrKhan514) February 14, 2024
