DHARAMSALA — Mohammed Siraj delivered a crucial late breakthrough for India, dismissing England opener Zak Crawley with the penultimate ball of day three to tilt the fifth and final Test firmly in the hosts' favor at the picturesque HPCA Stadium.
India Seize Momentum in Pivotal Session
After posting 477 in their first innings, India's bowlers struck at regular intervals to reduce England to 103/2 at tea. However, Crawley's stubborn resistance threatened to frustrate the hosts until Siraj's dramatic late intervention. The dismissal came via a sharp inswinger that trapped Crawley lbw for 79, confirmed after England's unsuccessful review.
"That was the perfect way to end the day," said Siraj during the post-day press conference. "We knew Crawley was the key, and getting him late gives us massive momentum heading into tomorrow. The ball was reversing nicely, and I just focused on hitting the right areas."
England's Top Order Shows Fight
England's openers Crawley and Ben Duckett (27) weathered India's new-ball threat during a 64-run stand before Ravichandran Ashwin struck in his first over. The veteran off-spinner, playing his 100th Test, had Duckett caught at short leg to claim his 507th Test wicket.
- Crawley survived two close lbw appeals against Jasprit Bumrah
- Ollie Pope looked uncomfortable before falling to Kuldeep Yadav for 19
- England still trail by 83 runs with Joe Root (26*) at the crease
Turning Point: The Late Breakthrough
With shadows lengthening across the Dharamsala ground, Siraj's late strike proved decisive. The delivery, clocked at 140kph, jagged back sharply to beat Crawley's defensive push. Hawk-Eye showed the ball crashing into middle stump, leaving England 103/3 at stumps.
"It's disappointing," admitted Crawley. "I felt good out there and wanted to be not out overnight. That ball from Siraj was exceptional - it's the kind that gets you nine times out of ten."
India's Dominant Position
Earlier, India's lower order extended their first-innings lead to 259 runs. Devdutt Padikkal (65) notched his maiden Test fifty before England's spinners wrapped up the tail:
- Shoaib Bashir claimed 5/173 - his second five-wicket haul of the series
- Tom Hartley (2/126) and James Anderson (2/60) shared the other wickets
- India's last four wickets added 97 valuable runs
With deteriorating pitch conditions and India's varied attack, England face an uphill battle to avoid conceding a series defeat. Former England captain Nasser Hussain noted on commentary: "This is exactly why that late wicket was so crucial. India now have their tails up and can attack with fresh bowlers tomorrow."
What Lies Ahead on Day Four
The morning session promises high drama with Root and Jonny Bairstow needing to rebuild. India will look to:
- Exploit reverse swing with the older ball
- Use Ashwin and Kuldeep in tandem as footmarks widen
- Target England's vulnerable middle order
Weather conditions remain ideal for cricket, with clear skies forecast. The pitch, while still good for batting, is showing signs of variable bounce that could trouble England's batsmen as the match progresses.
Series Context
India currently lead the series 3-1 after victories in Vizag, Rajkot, and Ranchi. England's lone win came in Hyderabad. A draw here would give India their 17th consecutive home series victory, extending their remarkable record in subcontinental conditions.
England coach Brendon McCullum remained optimistic: "We've been in tougher spots before. If Root and Bairstow can get us close to parity, we've got the firepower to put India under pressure in their second innings."
However, history favors India - they've never lost a Test match in Dharamsala, winning both previous encounters here against Australia (2017) and Bangladesh (2023). The hosts will be keen to maintain that perfect record as they seek to close out another dominant home campaign.
With two days remaining, all three results remain possible. But after Siraj's late strike, the momentum has swung decisively toward Rohit Sharma's side as they push for a 4-1 series victory that would cement their status as the world's premier Test team.