Updated 22 June 2025 at 23:57 IST
IND vs ENG- England Star Ollie Pope Highlights KL Rahul's Crucial Role In India's Success: 'His Wicket Will Be Pivotal'
KL Rahul will play a pivotal role on the 4th day of the Headingley Test if India are to cement their position.
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KL Rahul plays a shot | Image:
AP
India finished day three at 90/2 as KL Rahul flaunted his batting muscle once again. Jasprit Bumrah etched his name in history with a five-wicket haul at Headingley.
Ollie Pope Highlights KL Rahul's Importance
Courtesy of Harry Brook's brilliant 99 and Chris Woakes' quickfire 38, the match is evenly poised and both teams could seize their momentum on day 4. Ben Stokes provided India a jolt as he dismissed Sai Sudharsan a few moments before rain forced off early stumps on day three. Despite Bumrah's heroics, England launched a late fightback and the home side added 189 runs in the last five wickets. Prasidh Krishna started the day off with the wicket of Ollie Pope but the Indian bowlers struggled to grind something positive from the wicket.
KL Rahul launched an onslaught in the last session and the 33-year-old looked rather comfortable under a cloudy ambience. Rahul punished off the loose balls and India's chance will depend a lot how he performs on the 4th day. After the third day's play, Pope points out Rahul as the dangerous man. As quoted by ESPN Cricinfo, he said, "The India team batted in the sun for a day and a bit, then the clouds came in for us, so I knew it would be tough [for my hundred]. Respect the good balls and put away the bad balls. The conditions and I know this pitch, true bounce, quick outfields, can swing a bit. Play as late as I can, play square and score with the swing. That last series [in India] I wasn't good enough in the last four games, I'll look to draw a line under the last innings and reset from there. Whether it's 0 or a hundred. KL Rahul will be an important wicket for us. Don't want to put a number on a chase, the less the better but beat the infield it's four."
Jasprit Bumrah Shatters Multiple Records
Bumrah has now joined an exclusive list, surpassing Malcolm Marshall and Wasim Akram. In the SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries, he is third on the list for most Test wickets taken by a visiting bowler. West Indies legend Courtney Walsh is at the top of the list with 213 scalps, followed by Curtly Ambrose with 184 and Bumrah with 150 wickets.
The 33-year-old has also equalled Kapil Dev's record of registering 12 five-wicket hauls in away Test matches by an Indian bowler.
Published 22 June 2025 at 23:57 IST