The tension is rising at The Oval as India push hard to level the Test series, and the heat of the contest has started spilling over on the field. On the morning of Day 4, Yashasvi Jaiswal was caught having a go at Ben Duckett, asking him why he had stopped playing his usual attacking shots. “Come on, I want to see your shots. Play the sweep, reverse sweep. This is not your game,” Jaiswal reportedly said while fielding close in. Duckett didn’t hold back either and replied, “Why should I listen to you?” Shubman Gill also joined in, making it clear that India were going to keep the pressure on through both their bowling and their words. Duckett had earlier played several reverse sweeps in the first innings, with some success before eventually getting out to Akash Deep while trying the same stroke. The mind games are only adding to the intensity as England chase 374 for victory. They ended Day 3 on 50 for 1 after Mohammed Siraj removed Zak Crawley with a brilliant yorker on the final ball of the day. After starting Day 4 on 34 not out, he added 21 more before falling for 55, and was dismissed by Prasidh Krishna.
Poll
Do you think England can chase 374 runs?
India’s strong position was built on the back of another outstanding hundred from Jaiswal, who rode his luck to post 118, supported by fifties from Akash Deep, Jadeja and Sundar. The visitors made 396 in their second innings to leave England with a steep challenge and two full days to survive or chase.