India vs England 2016: 5 Talking Points from the 3rd Test in Mohali

This was always going to be the tipping point of the series. After a drab draw in Rajkot and a dominant Indian victory in Vizag, England desperately needed a positive result from the third Test in Mohali in order to stay afloat.

They were unable to rise to the occasion upon being pushed on the backfoot right from the word go. With their latest spin trio showing the way in both departments, India surged to a clinical eight-wicket victory and the resultant 2-0 lead with two more matches still to play.

Here are five major talking points from the fascinating encounter at the PCA Stadium.

---

#5 Win the toss and win the match, not quite so

Cook could not capitalise on his two reprieves in the first innings

The toss does make an impact in the game, even more so in the subcontinent. However, relying on the coin alone may not propel a team’s fortunes at this level. After harping on the importance of the toss for quite some time, England will now have to acknowledge the necessity of taking advantage of it as well.

On a fresh surface without any noticeable inundation, they could only manage a below-par total in the first innings which eroded their luck with the coin. Interestingly, the concurrently running second Test between New Zealand and Pakistan in Hamilton also gave a perfect illustration of the gratuitous emphasis on the toss.

#4 Kohli and Stokes add spice to the contest

Stokes and Kohli continuously goaded each other on the field

Among the major sub-plots of the match was the eventful duel between Virat Kohli and Ben Stokes. Apparently, it was the Indian skipper who seemed to have started the confrontation in the aftermath of the southpaw’s first-innings dismissal. While the Delhi batsman was let-off with not so much as a slap on the wrist, the Durham all-rounder admitted to breaching the ICC’s Code of Conduct and subsequently received another demerit point to his name.

Stokes returned the favour when he celebrated the right-hander’s wicket with a mocking hands-on-mouth gesture. The skirmish did not end there as Kohli seemed to have had the last laugh when he sent off his nemesis with a finger-on-lip celebration.

#3 England bear the brunt of Jadeja’s sword (Part II)

Jadeja brought out his sword-like celebration once again

Remember the famous Lord’s Test of 2014. When the game was on a knife-edge, Ravindra Jadeja strode out and belted the England bowlers from nowhere. Once he reached his fifty, the left-hander waved his bat like a sword to mark the moment.

He was at it again in Mohali. After walking out to bat with India still trailing by 79 runs with just four wickets intact, Jadeja settled the issue by reaching his career-best score. Needless to say, the sword-like celebration came out once again and rubbed salt into England’s wounds.

#2 Haseeb Hameed overcomes pain

Hameed is turning out to be a real find for England

Affectionately called ‘Baby Boycott’ for his rare propensity to bat for longer periods of time in an era of limited-overs razzmatazz, Haseeb Hameed was dealt a severe blow during the early stage of the match when a vicious delivery from Umesh Yadav rammed into his fingers.

While waiting for medical prognosis, the 19-year old batted in the nets to test the extent of his injury and found it to be serious enough to prevent him from opening the second innings for England. Eventually, he bravely walked out to bat even as the writing appeared to be on the wall and scored an unbeaten 156-ball 59. It was later revealed that his Indian sojourn would come to an end in Mohali.

#1 Shami sets fire on ice as Yadav raises hopes

Shami is rapidly shaping up to be an all-conditions pacer

During the 2011 series in England, Sir Ian Botham had sarcastically remarked, “To be honest, the Indian bowling attack is about as devastating as the Teletubbies.” Cut to 2016, Mohali – Mohammed Shami‘s menacing spell in the second innings made him sing a completely different tune which went as far as comparing the 26-year old speedster to the iconic Malcolm Marshall.

Shami’s slippery pace was complemented efficiently by Umesh Yadav’s ability to hit the deck hard. While all the focus had been on spin, India’s new-ball duo managed to hog the limelight with their persistent display. When India begin their next set of away tours, they might just have a fit and firing pace attack.