Ben Duckett's Unbeaten Century Fuels England's Fightback in Third Test Against India

In a remarkable display of resilience and skill, Ben Duckett's unbeaten century powered England's response against India on the second day of the third Test in Rajkot. Duckett's 133 not out from 118 balls, featuring an array of boundaries, propelled England to 207 for two, chasing India's formidable first innings total of 445. This performance was particularly noteworthy as it came against the backdrop of Ravichandran Ashwin's celebration of his 500th Test wicket, a milestone he reached by dismissing Zak Crawley for 15.

Duckett's innings was a masterclass in batting, as he became the quickest Englishman to score a century in India, reaching the landmark off just 88 balls. His innings was embellished with 21 fours and two sixes, showcasing his dominance over both spin and pace. This marked a significant turnaround from his previous Test stint in India in 2016, where Ashwin had troubled him considerably.

The day began with England seeking quick breakthroughs as India resumed their innings at 326 for five. Despite some early success, including James Anderson dismissing Kuldeep Yadav, India's lower order showed resilience. Debutant Dhruv Jurel and Ashwin added valuable runs, with Jurel narrowly missing out on a half-century. England's fielding woes continued as they missed several chances, allowing India to extend their total.

England's innings got off to an unusual start with Ashwin penalised for encroaching on the pitch, resulting in five penalty runs awarded to England. This incident followed a warning issued to Ravindra Jadeja on day one for a similar offence. The penalty runs and a no-ball from Jasprit Bumrah meant England started their innings with six runs on the board without facing a ball.

Duckett's aggressive batting post-tea session was a highlight, as he took the attack to the Indian bowlers, particularly targeting Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj. Despite Ashwin claiming his landmark wicket and ending an 89-run opening stand, Duckett continued his assault, eventually reaching his century in spectacular fashion.

England concluded the day in a strong position, with Duckett and Ollie Pope building a significant partnership before Pope was dismissed for 39. The day's play underscored England's determination not to be daunted by India's substantial first-innings total.

As the match progresses, England will look to build on this momentum, while India will aim to leverage their bowling attack to regain control. The contest remains finely poised, with both teams aware of the importance of taking an upper hand in the early stages of the match.