<p>The much-hyped brilliance of Hardik Pandya as a bowler in white flannels finally came to fruition and opener Shikhar Dhawan probably breathed new life into a tormenting tour as India took a massive stride towards a morale-lifting victory in the third Test.</p>.<p>Trailing 0-2 and needing some inspiration after frittering away all the hard work of day one in a poor first session on Sunday, the Indians came roaring back in spectacular fashion over next two sessions at Trent Bridge. Underfire all-rounder Pandya ignited the spark with a career-best haul of 5/28 — all wickets in one mesmerising spell — that shot out England for 161.</p>.<p>Dhawan, perhaps playing with his spot in the series on the line, then came out all guns blazing, stroking an easy on the eye 44 as India took stumps at 124/2, a massive lead of 292 runs.</p>.<p>Pilloried by many for neither making an impact with the ball nor the bat this series, Pandya gave an ample demonstration of his capabilities as a bowler. Swinging the ball one way and another, and using the width of the crease effectively in his six-over spell, the 24-year-old Baroda cricketer constantly kept asking tough questions in helpful conditions which the strong England middle-order didn’t have an answer to.</p>.<p>Coming into the attack in the 25th over after Jasprit Bumrah (2/37) and Ishant Sharma (2/32) had the hosts in a spot of bother at 75/3, Pandya scalped England skipper Joe Root with his very first ball.</p>.<p>Although Root had reservations over the legitimacy of KL Rahul’s superb low catch at second slip, the third umpire ruled it out as Indians celebrated vehemently.</p>.<p>Thrilled by the emphatic take-off, Pandya just soared from thereon, harrying England with his nippy pace and swing. Bowling with the confidence of a frontline pacer rather than one brought on to give the main men a breather, he was spot on with almost every delivery he hurled.</p>.<p>While he tried doing too much initially, he quickly settled in and banked on his main weapon — the darting in-swingers from wide of the crease. He then nicely threw in the out-swingers occasionally with the ball holding its line at times that caused problems for the England batsmen.</p>.<p>With Mohammed Shami, extremely erratic in the morning session, regaining his line and length at the other end, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow — naturally attacking player — struggled to enforce things. The relentless pressure from both ends resulted in the fall of Stokes’ wicket.</p>.<p>Pandya then took centre-stage, blasting past their lower middle-order with rarely seen effectiveness.</p>.<p>He swung one in for Bairstow and the wicketkeeper, trying to flick it, ended up getting a thick edge to slips. In the last ball of the same over — 31st — he sent back Chris Woakes. Pandya accounted for two more wickets in his very next over, first removing Adil Rashid with a pitched up ball and then trapped Stuart Broad leg before wicket to leave England reeling.</p>.<p>Limited overs wicket-keeper Jos Buttler save the Three Lions from the embarrassment of a follow-on with some outrageous shots but Bumrah ensured India still took a huge 168-run lead.</p>.<p>Seeking quick runs, openers KL Rahul and Dhawan came out swinging, scoring at six runs per over that further pushed England on the back foot.</p>.<p>They departed yet again against the run of the play but this time India appear in cruise control with skipper Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease. </p>
<p>The much-hyped brilliance of Hardik Pandya as a bowler in white flannels finally came to fruition and opener Shikhar Dhawan probably breathed new life into a tormenting tour as India took a massive stride towards a morale-lifting victory in the third Test.</p>.<p>Trailing 0-2 and needing some inspiration after frittering away all the hard work of day one in a poor first session on Sunday, the Indians came roaring back in spectacular fashion over next two sessions at Trent Bridge. Underfire all-rounder Pandya ignited the spark with a career-best haul of 5/28 — all wickets in one mesmerising spell — that shot out England for 161.</p>.<p>Dhawan, perhaps playing with his spot in the series on the line, then came out all guns blazing, stroking an easy on the eye 44 as India took stumps at 124/2, a massive lead of 292 runs.</p>.<p>Pilloried by many for neither making an impact with the ball nor the bat this series, Pandya gave an ample demonstration of his capabilities as a bowler. Swinging the ball one way and another, and using the width of the crease effectively in his six-over spell, the 24-year-old Baroda cricketer constantly kept asking tough questions in helpful conditions which the strong England middle-order didn’t have an answer to.</p>.<p>Coming into the attack in the 25th over after Jasprit Bumrah (2/37) and Ishant Sharma (2/32) had the hosts in a spot of bother at 75/3, Pandya scalped England skipper Joe Root with his very first ball.</p>.<p>Although Root had reservations over the legitimacy of KL Rahul’s superb low catch at second slip, the third umpire ruled it out as Indians celebrated vehemently.</p>.<p>Thrilled by the emphatic take-off, Pandya just soared from thereon, harrying England with his nippy pace and swing. Bowling with the confidence of a frontline pacer rather than one brought on to give the main men a breather, he was spot on with almost every delivery he hurled.</p>.<p>While he tried doing too much initially, he quickly settled in and banked on his main weapon — the darting in-swingers from wide of the crease. He then nicely threw in the out-swingers occasionally with the ball holding its line at times that caused problems for the England batsmen.</p>.<p>With Mohammed Shami, extremely erratic in the morning session, regaining his line and length at the other end, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow — naturally attacking player — struggled to enforce things. The relentless pressure from both ends resulted in the fall of Stokes’ wicket.</p>.<p>Pandya then took centre-stage, blasting past their lower middle-order with rarely seen effectiveness.</p>.<p>He swung one in for Bairstow and the wicketkeeper, trying to flick it, ended up getting a thick edge to slips. In the last ball of the same over — 31st — he sent back Chris Woakes. Pandya accounted for two more wickets in his very next over, first removing Adil Rashid with a pitched up ball and then trapped Stuart Broad leg before wicket to leave England reeling.</p>.<p>Limited overs wicket-keeper Jos Buttler save the Three Lions from the embarrassment of a follow-on with some outrageous shots but Bumrah ensured India still took a huge 168-run lead.</p>.<p>Seeking quick runs, openers KL Rahul and Dhawan came out swinging, scoring at six runs per over that further pushed England on the back foot.</p>.<p>They departed yet again against the run of the play but this time India appear in cruise control with skipper Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease. </p>
