IND vs ENG Day 4 Weather Report and Pitch Report of Visakhapatnam Test, 2024

The IND vs ENG Visakhapatnam Test is well poised after day 3. England have been set a target of 399 runs by India who were bowled out for 255 in their second innings. England now need another 332 after they knocked off 67 runs in 14 overs in the final session.

India scored 255 runs on the back of Shubman Gill’s third Test ton. He scored 104 off 147 deliveries and added crucial partnerships with Shreyas Iyer (29) and Axar Patel (45). Ravichandran Ashwin scored 29 off 61 deliveries. He was expected to take India’s lead beyond 400 with the tailenders but that did not happen as India lost wickets in clusters in the final session.

England skipper Ben Stokes was proactive with his captaincy and manufactured wickets out of nowhere. The visitors were set an early blow after Joe Root injured his right little finger in the eighth over of the day. He was taken out of the field for further treatment and he never returned back on the field again.

Stokes used young spinners in long spells and extracted eight wickets out of them. Tom Hartley picked up 4/88, Rehan Ahmed 3/88, and Shoaib Bashir 1/ 58. Bashir took the prized wicket of Gill. James Anderson took 2/29 and dismissed both the openers.

Also Read: IND vs ENG scorecard, 2nd Test, day 3 highlights: Shubman Gill, Ravichandran Ashwin put India in a commanding position

The Indian batters especially KS Bharat (6 off 28) and Jaspreit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav scored ducks when they needed to bat alongside Ravichandran Ashwin to take India beyond 400. The Men in Blue at one point looked good to post something beyond 450 as the lead but wickets of Gill and Axar Patel on the brink of tea came as a big blow to the Indian team. The stand of 89 was broken by Shoaib Bahir who dismissed Gill and then Hartley came back to dismiss Axar.

From 220/6, India were bowled out for 255 as India lost their last four wickets for just 35 runs. The inability of the lower order to add crucial runs might come back to haunt the Indian team. Shubman Gill who scored his third Test ton spoke about his innings and the pitch and how it played throughout the day’s play.

“Definitely very pleased but I left a bit out there to be honest. The first one I didn’t feel it (inside edge onto pad). Shreyas told me to take it in case it’s umpire’s call. I saw the point fielder go there and I thought it was a percentage shot. Should’ve just played the 5-6 overs till tea” said Gill.

He also spoke about the pitch, how it played, and what to expect from the 22-yards on the fourth and fifth days.

“Pretty decent wicket to bat on. Not an easy kind of wicket to hit on the rise. Have to apply yourself because the odd one is turning and odd one is keeping low. I think so (getting pulled up by his father for that shot that got him out). I’ll get to know once I get back to the hotel but I think so. He comes for most of my games, there’s no such pressure. I think it’s 70-30 at the moment. Morning session will be key. We’ve seen there is moisture in the morning and help for fast bowlers and spinners” said Gill.

IND vs ENG Day 4 Weather Report and Pitch Report of Visakhapatnam Test

As Gill said after the third day’s play, the pitch is a good one for batting once the batters get in and apply themselves. It is not an easy wicket for batters to play on the rise as pointed out by the young batter. The England batters will play with intent and will play their strokes. This is where the Indian team will need to be aware of the opportunities that come their way. If England bat the entire day on day 4, they are pretty much expected to win the match. The only way to win the match for India is to bowl out the visitors.

Speaking about the weather conditions on Monday, the temperature will be around 31 degrees throughout the day. There will be a bit of cloud cover in the evening like it was on Sunday. There is a 5 percent chance of rain.

Also Read: Joe Root ruled out of the remainder of 2nd Test? James Anderson provides colossal update