In a match that witnessed several shifts in momentum, India clinched a series win against England with a decisive 5-wicket victory in the penultimate Test, marking their 17th consecutive Test series triumph on home soil. The win was anchored by a crucial 72-run unbeaten partnership between Dhruv Jurel and Shubman Gill, highlighting India's resilience and depth in batting.
The day began on a high note for India, with Captain Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal continuing their dominant form, quickly amassing runs in the morning session. Their partnership yielded 84 runs before a spectacular catch by James Anderson ended Jaiswal's stint at the crease. Notably, Jaiswal's series total reached 655 runs, tying with Virat Kohli for the highest runs scored by an Indian in a Test series against England.
Rohit Sharma, leading by example, also reached his half-century. However, his dismissal, followed by Rajat Patidar's quick exit without scoring, brought India to a precarious 100/3.
Ravindra Jadeja and Shubman Gill then steadied the innings, adopting a cautious approach until Jadeja's departure to a loose shot off Shoaib Bashir's bowling. The subsequent loss of Sarfaraz Khan for a duck momentarily tilted the scales in England's favor, leaving India in a challenging position with 72 runs still needed for victory.
Amid this tension, Dhruv Jurel stepped up, demonstrating remarkable composure under pressure. He carefully navigated the innings, focusing on rotating the strike and keeping the scoreboard moving without risking his wicket. Jurel's calm demeanour seemed to inspire Gill, who until then had played a restrained innings. India's No. 3 also registered a fifty and with Jurel, formed a partnership that not only steadied the Indian ship but also demoralized the English team, steering India towards a memorable series win.
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