3rd Test, Day 2: Openers solid after Axar, Ashwin show, India need 38 to win in Ahmedabad

'One of the top match-winners for India'

Sunil Gavaskar on Star Sports says R Ashwin is up there with the best like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli. The legendary cricketer was asked where does Ashwin rank among India's best match-winners

Praise Axar but don't forget Ashwin

Axar Patel has picked up 11 wickets in this match but what about Ashwin? He picked up three in the first innings, four in the second and more importantly became the second fastest after Sri Lankan legend Muralitharan to grab 400 Test wickets.

Session 2 in a nutshell

England were bowled out for 81 in the second session of Day 2 in the day-night Test. Axar Patel picked up five wickets while R Ashwin grabbed four as India got all 10 England wickets in this session. And this is after India had lost their seven wickets in the first session.

Top top it all, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gilldown to managed to get 11 runs to bring the target down to 38 more runs for India now.

Dinner Break

India were 11 for no loss after bowling out England for 81. The hosts now need 38 more runs to win this game and go up 2-1 in the series. Rohit Sharma (6*) and Shubman Gill (1*) will resume the innings after the break. Stay Tuned

Joe Root comes into the attack

After a phenomenal five-wicket haul in the first innings, England captain Joe Root comes to bowl the second over in India's second innings. IND:5/0

Lowest totals for England vs India:

81 - Ahmedabad 2020/21 *

101 - The Oval 1971

102 - Mumbai WS 1979/80

102 - Leeds 1986

112 - Ahmedabad 2020/21

Indian openers are out to bat

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma are out to bat. They will be chasing a 49-run total to win the pink-ball Test. Jack Leach begins the attack for England.

England all-out for 81

Washington Sundar hits the final nail in the coffin and gets rid of James Anderson to bowl out England for 81. This is England's lowest Test score against India. The hosts now need 49 runs to win.

Ashwin gets Jack Leach

WICKET! Ashwin strikes again. Slower and wider of off, spun away after pitching and Leach went for the shot. Gets a thick edge and ends up getting caught by Rahane.

Ten-wicket hauls in D/N Tests:

11/70 - Axar Patel vs England, Ahmedabad 2020/21 *

10/62 - Pat Cummins vs Sri Lanka, Brisbane 2018/19

10/174 - Devendra Bishoo vs Pakistan, Dubai 2016/17

Axar strikes, Foakes departs

Axar Patel has been phenomenal with the ball in the third Test. He trapped Ben Foakes in front to claim the third-consecutive five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

ENG: 80/8

Fewest Tests to 400 wickets:

72 - Muttiah Muralitharan

77 - Ravichandran ASHWIN

80 - Richard Hadlee/ Dale Steyn

84 - Rangana Herath

85 - Anil Kumble

Words of appreciation from Anil Kumble

Stats Alert!

Ashwin removed Jofra Archer LBW to complete 400 wickets in Test cricket. He becomes the fourth Indian bowler after Kapil, Kumble and Harbhajan to enter the 400-wickets club. He has also become the second fastest, after Muttiah Muralitharan to reach this feat.

400 Test wickets for Ashwin

Ashwin to Ollie Pope: OUT

OUT! Sensational delivery from Ashwin to clip the stumps of Ollie Pope. A drifted delivery that turned up to bamboozle the batsman. Off-stump crashed and Pope walks back. ENG: 66/6

Aaxar to Root: OUT!

WICKET! Axar Patel has now completed a 10-wicket haul in the ongoing Third Test at Motera. Another non-spinning delivery that traps Joe Root adjacent to the middle. ENG: 56/5

Ashwin vs Stokes: Stats Alert!

· This is the 11th time Ashwin has dismissed Stokes in Test cricket, most by any bowler.

· All of his dismissals in this series have been to spinners

o 4x Ashwin

o 1x Axar Patel

o 1x S Nadeem

Ashwin traps Ben Stokes

Wicket! After Axar's mayhem, Ashwin joins the party and gets rid of Ben Stokes. Fuller and quicker, Stokes bends forward to defend but gets hit on the back pad. Indian players appeal and the umpire gives it straight away.

ENG: 50/4