IND vs ENG 3rd Test Key Takeaways: Pujara-Rahane chapter closed, next generation takes charge

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IND vs ENG 3rd Test Key Takeaways: Coming from a shocking defeat in the series-opener, India entered the second Test in Visakhapatnam without Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja against an England team which is downright adamant to change how the 150-year format of cricket is played.

In the first Test, the 'Bazball' mentality of England helped them overcome a 190-run first innings deficit to beat India by 28 runs. It's sometimes scary how the team under Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum plays the longest format of the game.

However, India bounced back and managed to level the series 1-1 with a 106-run win without their three superstar cricketers. The hosts were set to face another challenge when Kohli made himself unavailable for the entire series, KL Rahul failed to recover fully from his injury, Shreyas Iyer was dropped, and two debutants and one-match old Rajat Patidar took the field for the third Test in Rajkot.

Considering the dearth of experience, and Shubman Gill's underwhelming Test numbers, especially when batting at number three, questions were raised if it was the right decision to ignore someone like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane for the last three Tests.

Recently, Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mark Boucher mentioned that people in India are emotional when it comes to decision not favouring their favourite cricketers, or the set norm. He was talking about the cricketing logic behind taking away the captaincy from Rohit Sharma to name Hardik Pandya his successor. The South Africa great received backlash and the video had to be removed.

Interestingly, with Rohit Sharma at the helm of the Indian cricket team, the decision to keep Test specialists Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane is ironic. The difference between the three players, in all the aspects, can be up for debate. The point being made here is just to mention that people in the management do know something more than a fan, expert, and in modern scenario - social media trollers.

IND vs ENG: Pujara-Rahane chapter closed, next generation takes charge

The Indian Test team is in a transition phase. Five players in the playing eleven had played less than 10 matches before the start of the match. Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel were making their debut, Rajat Patidar made one in the second Test, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Kuldeep Yadav had played less than 10 games.

Only three players - Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Rohit Sharma had played more than 50 Tests. Jasprit Bumrah was the fourth most experienced Test player in the team with 34 matches under his belt.

Had the India batting unit collapsed, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid would have been the first ones to be slammed for ignoring Pujara and Rahane. But their trust in youngsters and their rigidity to stick with the roadmap paid off handsomely.

Shubman Gill has ended the debate for the number three spot. After three consecutive failures at the start of the series, the Punjab batter slammed a hundred in the second innings of the second Test. He followed it up with another 91 in the second innings of the third Test. He would have smashed a fourth Test hundred had he not got run out in an unlucky fashion. Regardless, the right-hander has increased his hold on the number three spot, and pushed away Pujara far out of his sight.

In the absence of KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan also made the most of his debut opportunity. A 48-ball fifty in the first innings, followed by unbeaten 68 off 72 in the second. There are plenty of takers for the number five spot now. Rahane's ambition to play hundred Tests is done and dusted, and we are not even taking his poor run in Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season in account.

Once Kohli and Rahul return, India would be laden with batting options. Ravindra Jadeja's thumping hundred while batting at number five, adds to India's sweet headache, and problem of plenty. The performance of the youngsters which fired India to a 434-run win - their biggest ever in Test cricket - have indeed shut the door permanently for Pujara and Rahane.

End of road for KS Bharat

KS Bharat can not deny the fact that he got opportunity and backing like none other. The Ishan Kishan break amid Rishabh Pant's prolonged absence due to injury, came as a blessing in disguise for him.

But his poor run with the bat has put his career in jeopardy now. Bharat for long was considered as India next best glovesman after Wriddhiman Saha. A 22-year-old Dhruv Jurel might just have snatched that tag also away from him.

Jurel, the Uttar Pradesh wicketkeeper-batter, gave a cracking performance on his debut. He played the situation with complete authority in his maiden innings to score 46 runs off 104 balls. His takes behind the stumps continuously impressed the elite commentary panel. The Mohammed Siraj throw which he grabbed by sliding in the front to dislodge the stumps on time to send a dangerous Ben Duckett packing would be remembered for long.