India vs England, 3rd Test Day 2 highlights: Ravichandran Ashwin bags wicket No. 500; Ben Duckett slams record ton

India's Ravichandran Ashwin, right with Kuldeep Yadav celebrates the wicket of England's Zak Crawley

India vs England 3rd Test Day 2 highlights, IND vs ENG: Promoting England's fearless brand of Bazball cricket on Day 2 of the 3rd Test against India in Rajkot, premier batter Ben Duckett smashed a quick-fire century as Ben Stokes' men reached 207-2 in just 35 overs. Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bagged his 500th Test wicket after Tea in Rajkot. Pacer Mohammed Siraj picked up the crucial wicket of Ollie Pope (39) before the end of the third session. Duckett smashed the fastest Test century by an England batter in India. England trail India by 238 runs at Stumps on Day 2 in Rajkot.

India put 445 in the first innings after important contributions from Dhruv Jurel (46), Ravichandran Ashwin (37), and Jasprit Bumrah (26) on Day 2. The duo of Ashwin and Jurel added 77 runs for the eighth wicket after England made early inroads with the dismissals of Kuldeep Yadav (4) and Ravindra Jadeja (112) within the first hour of Day 2. Debutant Jurel showed great composure and showed commendable grit and patience to see off the English threat. Ashwin, at the other end, took charge of the run-scoring as Jurel adapted to the occasion, and the duo eventually forged a 50+ run-stand for the eighth wicket.

For England, James Anderson picked his first wicket of the innings when he inflicted the opening blow on India on Day 2, removing nightwatchman Kuldeep, inducing an outside edge. Joe Root, meanwhile, outfoxed Jadeja with a ball that turned sharply as the batter looked for a flick shot; instead, the ball finds a thick edge and goes straight back to Root, who made no mistake in grabbing the catch.

Mark Wood, however, ended as the highest wicket-taker in the innings, registering figures of 4/114 while Rehan Ahmed picked two wickets, dismissing Ashwin and Jurel in quick succession.

Earlier on Day 1, Rohit's 11th and Jadeja's fourth Test century – accompanied by a couple of sword-swinging celebrations – and a 204-run partnership swung the momentum completely. Then suddenly, out of the blue, Rohit's strength became his weakness as he mistimed a pull shot. England fancied their chances of triggering another Indian middle-lower order collapse, but they were in for an unfamiliar surprise. Sarfaraz Khan, making his Tests debut, gave England a taste of their own medicine, Bazballing his way to a blistering fifty. Although the 26-year-old was unfortunately run out after an error in judgment from Jadeja, India ended the day at 326/5 with the latter unbeaten on 110.

But despite Rohit and Jadeja's centuries, the real show-stealer was Sarfaraz. The growing clamours of his inclusion not dying anytime, the Mumbai batter showed what he is made of. Showing no nerves whatsoever, he outscored Jadeja, adding 43 of the first 50 runs the two put together. The way he chipped down the wicket to spinners and swept them nonchalantly, anyone can mistake him to be a 50-Test veteran. Then again, given the grind he has put in at the domestic circuit, he would consider exactly that. With his father and wife in the stands, Sarfaraz, after getting off the mark in Test cricket, with a single, did not look back. A century was there for the taking, and even though his innings was cut short for 62, Sarfaraz provided a sneak peek as to what's in store.

The Rajkot surface had no real demons in the pitch. In fact, if Rohit's reaction to Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill perishing cheaply was any indication, Day 2 promises to be even more suited to batting. But having said that, there were a few deliveries from the England bowlers that would be playing on the minds of their batters and India's bowlers. Tom Hartley was able to generate grip and turn as early as the 12th over and by the fag end of the day, some even kept low. Jadeja, right now with a bat, would be smacking his lips and hoping that his prophecy of Ravichandran Ashwin grabbing his historic 500th Test wicket comes true.

And then again, there's the monumental occasion of Stokes' 100th Test.

Below are a few pointers regarding the India vs England 3rd Test:

- England reached 207-2 in 35 overs at Stumps on Day 2. Visitors trail by 238 runs.

- Ben Duckett smashed his 3rd century off 88 balls.

- Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Zack Crawley to bag his 500th Test wicket in the 13th over.

- India scored 445 in the first innings.

- Dhruv Jurel fell four runs short of his half-century, but forged a strong 77-run stand with Ravichandran Ashwin (37).

- Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed on 112, as India lost two wickets in the first session.

- Dhruv Jurel shows commendable composure as he arrives to bat on his debut, staying unbeaten on 31 off 71 deliveries at Lunch.

- England start their innings at 5/0 after Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin were penalised for running down the middle of the pitch.