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The blackout curtains of the hotel room did their job perfectly, turning the suite into a cave of silence. Aarav lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, his body heavy with the kind of fatigue that sinks into the marrow. He had showered, but the adrenaline of the dismissal still hummed faintly in his veins.
He reached for his phone on the nightstand to set an alarm. The screen lit up. Missed Call (2):Dr. S 🩺 (Shradha)
A soft smile broke through his exhaustion. He tapped the video call icon.
It rang once. Shradha picked up immediately. She was sitting at her study desk in Mumbai, books open, wearing reading glasses.
"Hey, Champion," she whispered, smiling. "I saw the wicket. Unlucky."
"Hey, babe," Aarav's voice was a gravelly whisper. He rubbed his eyes. "Yeah. Stokes got me. Lapse in concentration."
He shifted the phone, resting it on the pillow so he didn't have to hold it.
"Listen," Aarav mumbled, his eyelids drooping. "I wanted to talk... but I can't. Last night... we talked for three, four hours, remember? It was amazing, but..."
"But?"
"But my coffee boost died around Tea time," Aarav chuckled weakly. "I was running on fumes out there in the final session. My brain is shutting down, Shradha. If I don't sleep now, I might faint."
Shradha's face softened instantly. She took off her glasses. "Oh god, Aarav! I'm so sorry! I totally forgot about the time difference and your recovery. I was just so excited to talk to you."
"Don't be sorry," Aarav murmured, his eyes closing involuntarily. "I loved it. But tonight... I need to crash. Mental health check. Body battery low."
"Go to sleep," she commanded gently. "Right now. Put the phone away. Don't think about the match. Don't think about Stokes. Just sleep. Sweet dreams of us, okay?"
"Dreams of us," Aarav repeated, a sleepy smile playing on his lips. "Goodnight, Doctor."
"Goodnight, Love."
The call ended. Aarav let the phone slide from his hand onto the mattress. Within seconds, the breathing deepened.
08:00 AM.
Aarav woke up before the alarm. He stretched. His back cracked a satisfying sound. The heavy leaden feeling in his legs was gone, replaced by a fresh springiness. The ten hours of deep, uninterrupted sleep had worked magic.
He jumped out of bed. Shower. Breakfast (Oatmeal and fruits). Team Bus.
The drive to Edgbaston was quiet. The team knew the equation. India Lead: 377 Runs. Wickets in Hand: 7. Goal: Bat England out of the game. Set big total for them to chase in last day and take 10 wickets.
Virat Kohli was sitting at the front, listening to music. He looked focused. He was unbeaten on 20. Shreyas Iyer, the next man in, was tapping his bat on the floor of the bus, looking nervous but ready.
The bus rolled into the Edgbaston compound. The sun was shining! A rare English miracle. The pitch would be better for batting today.
Aarav walked onto the field for the warm-ups. He grabbed a football and started juggling it with Rishabh Pant. "Sleep well, Pathak?" Pant asked, heading the ball back to him. "Like a baby," Aarav grinned. "Ready to cheer for you when you go out there."
"Hope you don't have to cheer for a long time," Pant winked. "Let Virat bhai and Shreyas bat till lunch."
10:55 AM. The umpires walked out. The England team followed, led by Ben Stokes. They looked tired. They knew the mountain in front of them was Everest-sized.
Then, the Indian pair emerged from the dressing room. Virat Kohli, the King, marking his guard. Shreyas Iyer, looking to make a mark in Test cricket overseas.
The crowd applauded. Aarav sat on the balcony, legs up on the railing, wearing his sunglasses. He watched as Kohli took his stance.
Day 4 had begun. The lead was 377. The target was domination.
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The sun was out at Edgbaston, but the mood in the English camp was anything but sunny. They were staring down the barrel of a 377-run deficit before a ball was even bowled on Day 4. Ben Stokes gathered his troops. The message was clear: Attack. Buy wickets. End it quickly.
James Anderson and Stuart Broad took the ball.
Over 40: James Anderson to Virat Kohli
Kohli, looking to dominate early and push the lead past 400 quickly, started with intent. Ball 1: Anderson bowled fuller. Kohli leaned into a drive, pushing it through cover-point for 2 runs. Ball 2: Kohli flicked a stray delivery off his pads for another 2 runs. He moved to 24.
Ball 3: Anderson pulled his length back slightly. It was the wobble seam delivery again—the one that had troubled Kohli all match. Kohli tried to play a forcing back-foot punch through covers. The bounce was a fraction lower than he anticipated. The ball took the inside edge, hit his thigh pad, and rolled onto the stumps. Clatter.
Nasser Hussain: "He's dragged it on! Again! Anderson gets Kohli early on Day 4! A massive breakthrough for England! Kohli can't believe it. He was looking to score quickly, but the low bounce does him in. India 129/4!"
Virat Kohli b Anderson 24 (40)Score: India 129/4
Rishabh Pant walked out to join Shreyas Iyer. The lead was 381. The target was to get it over 450 and declare (or get bowled out trying).
Iyer, usually aggressive against spin, found the moving ball tricky. Over 42 (Stuart Broad): Iyer slashed at a wide one. Missed. Over 44 (Matthew Potts): Iyer finally connected a pull shot for FOUR.
But his stay was short. Over 46: Matty Potts to Shreyas Iyer Potts banged it in short. A well-directed bouncer at the throat. Iyer, uncomfortable against the short ball, tried to fend it off awkwardly. He took his eyes off the ball. It gloved to Sam Billings behind the stumps.
Michael Atherton: "The short ball does the trick! Shreyas Iyer looked uncomfortable from ball one against the short stuff. Potts directed it well, and it's a simple catch for the keeper. India is losing wickets in a cluster this morning!"
Shreyas Iyer c Billings b Potts 19 (26)Score: India 153/5
India was effectively 400 ahead, but 5 wickets down. England sensed a chance to keep the target under 450. But Ravindra Jadeja joined Rishabh Pant. And Pant decided it was time for T20 mode.
Over 50: Jack Leach to Rishabh Pant
Pant saw the spinner. His eyes lit up. Ball 1: Pant stepped out. One-handed six over long-on. Ball 2: Reverse sweep for four. Ball 3: A orthodox sweep for four.
Ravi Shastri: "He has pressed the accelerator! Rishabh Pant doesn't care about the fielders! He is manipulating the field at will. The lead is zooming past 430!"
Jadeja played the perfect foil, rotating the strike and punishing the bad balls. He hit a glorious straight drive off Anderson that reminded everyone of his century in the first innings.
Pant reached his 50 off just 55 balls with a cut shot through point. But in trying to hit every ball for six to push the lead to 500, he finally perished.
Over 58: Jack Leach Pant tried to switch-hit Leach into the stands. He didn't get the elevation. Deep point took the catch.
Rishabh Pant c Crawley b Leach 57 (86)Score: India 198/6
With the lead now over 450, the license was granted to the tail. Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah walked out with one instruction: Swing.
Shardul Thakur: Tried to launch Stokes out of the ground first ball. Missed. Second ball, edged to slip. Out for 4.
Ravindra Jadeja: Tried to accelerate, bowled by Anderson for a well-made 23.
Score: India 215/8.
Then came the entertainment. Mohammed Shami. Shami smashed Broad for two consecutive fours—one a pristine cover drive, one a slog over mid-wicket. He scored 13 off 14 balls before holing out.
Jasprit Bumrah added 7 runs, including a boundary that was more edge than bat. Mohammed Siraj remained not out on 2.
The innings wrapped up quickly before Lunch.
Final Score: India 245 All Out (Second Innings) Overs: 62.5
Innings Break
The scoreboard flashed the daunting numbers.
India 1st Innings: 472
England 1st Innings: 223
India 2nd Innings: 245
Target for England:495 Runs
Studio Analysis (Lunch Break)
Sourav Ganguly: "495 to win. In the fourth innings. At Edgbaston. History says it's impossible. The highest chase here is around 280. England needs a miracle."
Nasser Hussain: "Bazball has chased 277, 299, and 296 recently. But 495? Against Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, and Aarav Pathak? That is a bridge too far. They have to bat out 5 sessions to draw, or score at 5 runs an over for 100 overs. It's a monumental task."
Ravi Shastri: "India just needs to be disciplined. They have runs on the board. They have the best pace attack in the world. Aarav Pathak will be itching to get that ball in his hand. He has had a quiet morning with the bat, but he will want to finish this series with the ball."
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The Indian dressing room was usually a place of loud music and banter, but today, during the Lunch break, it was silent. The smell of grilled chicken and pasta hung in the air, but few were eating with gusto.
The whiteboard in the center of the room was the focal point. On it, written in blue marker, was the number: 495.
Rahul Dravid stood next to the board. Virat Kohli, pads off, towel around his neck, sat in the front row. Aarav Pathak, refreshed after his morning rest, sat next to Jasprit Bumrah.
"495," Dravid began, tapping the board. "In any other era of Test cricket, we would be popping champagne right now. Against any other team, we would be planning our dinner reservations. But this..." He pointed to the TV screen showing highlights of England's recent run chases against New Zealand. "This is not any other team."
"Bazball," Kohli muttered, a hint of disdain in his voice. "They don't care about the target. They care about the run rate."
"Exactly," Dravid nodded. "They have approx 156 overs. If they score at 3.5 runs an over, they get this easily. They chased 299 in 50 overs at Trent Bridge. They chased 296 at Headingley. They believe they can chase anything. If we relax for even one session, they will take the game away."
Paras Mhambrey (Bowling Coach) stepped up. "The sun is out. The heavy roller was used. The pitch is flattening out. By tomorrow, this track will be a road. The cracks haven't opened up enough to help Jaddu excessively. So, the game has to be won by the pacers, and it has to be won today."
He pulled up a slide on the projector. Player Matchups.
1. The Openers: Alex Lees & Zak Crawley "Crawley is fragile," Aarav spoke up, leaning forward. "He plants his front foot and plays across the line. If I get the new ball to nip back, he is LBW every time. I got him that way in the first innings." "Agreed," Kohli said. "Lees is stubborn but limited. Jassi, you attack his stumps. Make him play every ball."
2. Ollie Pope "Fidgety starter," Bumrah noted. "We got him with the angle last time. He pushes at the ball. We keep a gully and a tight point. Dry up his runs, he will nick one."
3. The Backbone: Joe Root The room went quieter. Root was one of the best Test batsman in the world. "Root is the anchor," Dravid said. "He won't slog like the others. He will kill us with singles and rotation. We cannot let him settle. Shami, your line against him was perfect in the first innings. Fourth stump. Make him leave." "Or make him drive on the up," Shami added. "The wobble seam is key."
4. Jonny Bairstow "This guy..." Kohli shook his head. "He is in the form of his life. If he comes in at 100/3, he will try to hit us out of the park." "Short ball," Aarav said firmly. "We saw it in the first innings. He gets into a tangle with the high bouncer into the ribs. We don't bowl length to him. Either yorker or bouncer. No freebies." "Field placement?" Pant asked. "Deep square leg, deep fine leg," Kohli directed. "Challenge his ego. If he wants to hook, let him hook to the fielders."
5. Ben Stokes Aarav cracked his knuckles. A cold silence fell over the group. Everyone remembered the confrontation. "Stokes is personal," Kohli said, looking at Aarav. "He will come hard at you. He will try to disrupt your rhythm." "Let him try," Aarav said calmly. "I bowled him through the gate last time. I'll do it again. He moves around in the crease too much. If I bowl straight and fast, he misses."
Dravid summarized the strategy. "We have roughly 60 overs today. The light is good. The ball is new. We need minimum 3-4 wickets before stumps. If they go into Day 5 with wickets in hand, on a flat pitch... it gets dangerous."
"Shami and Siraj," Kohli directed. "You guys are the workhorses today. Short, sharp spells. 4 overs max. Keep the pace up." "Jassi and Aarav," Kohli turned to his premier weapons. "New ball. 30 minutes of hell. Break them early."
Aarav stood up, stretching his towering frame. He picked up the new Dukes ball from the kit bag. It was hard, shiny, and beautiful. "Sunlight or no sunlight," Aarav said, tossing the ball to Bumrah. "495 is a mountain. Let's make sure they die of altitude sickness before they even start climbing."
"Chalo boys!" Kohli clapped, the energy surging back into the room. "One last push! For the series! For history!"
The team filed out of the dressing room. The Edgbaston crowd roared as the Indians took the field. The sun was shining on Birmingham, but for the English openers, dark clouds were gathering at the bowling crease.
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The heavy roller had done its job during the innings break, flattening out the indentations on the pitch. But for the English openers, Alex Lees and Zak Crawley, the surface was the least of their worries. The scoreboard was the real monster.
495 Runs.
It loomed over Edgbaston like a dark cloud. No team in the history of Test cricket had chased this many. But this was "Bazball" the new England under Stokes and McCullum. If any team was crazy enough to try, it was this one.
Virat Kohli led his team out. The Indian huddle was loud, aggressive, and buzzing. "10 wickets!" Kohli shouted, clapping his hands. "We don't wait for mistakes. We force them. Aarav, Jassi, let's hunt."
Aarav Pathak took the new ball. He had rested in the dressing room while Pant and Jadeja batted in the morning. His legs were fresh. His shoulder was loose. And his mind was sharp and his sleep had given his mind proper mental rest.
Over 1: Aarav Pathak to Alex Lees
Ravi Shastri: "Here we go. The chase begins. Aarav Pathak, fresh and fired up, with the brand new Dukes ball. Alex Lees on strike. He needs to survive the first spell. Three slips, a gully, and a short leg. Kohli is attacking."
Ball 1: Aarav didn't need a sighter. He steamed in from the Pavilion End. 151 kmph. He aimed for the base of leg stump. A searing inswinging yorker first up. Alex Lees wasn't ready for the pace. He tried to jam his bat down, but his feet got tangled. He lost his balance completely and fell over onto the pitch, scrambling to keep the ball out. The ball thudded into the toe of the bat, millimeters from the boot and the stumps. Lees ended up on all fours, looking back at his wicket in panic.
Rishabh Pant (Behind stumps): "Hahahaha! Gir gaya! (He fell down!) Oye, legs kaanp rahe hain! (Legs are shaking!) Well bowled, Pathal!"
The slip cordon erupted in laughter. Kohli clapped aggressively. "That's it! He's scared! He doesn't want to be here!"
Nasser Hussain: "Not the start Lees wanted. He ends up on the floor. That is serious pace and hostility from Aarav Pathak. The Indians are chirping already. They need wickets early."
Ball 2: Aarav walked back, a smirk on his face. He ran in again. Good length, shaping in. Lees defended solidly this time, though his feet were planted deep in the crease. Dot.
Ball 3: Outswinger. Lees watched it go. Dot.
Ball 4-6: Aarav probed the channel. Lees survived, but he looked tentative. Maiden Over.
Over 2: Bumrah from the Other End
Jasprit Bumrah shared the new ball. Zak Crawley on strike. Bumrah kept it tight, angling it in. Crawley managed to push a couple of singles. Lees got off the mark with a nervous push to mid-on. 2 Runs from the over.
Over 3:
Michael Atherton: "Zak Crawley on strike. Aarav Pathak with the ball. This is a mismatch in this series. Aarav has dismissed him four - five times already. Crawley averages single digits against him. This is a psychological battle."
Ball 1: Aarav ran in. He didn't bowl express pace. He bowled a wobbler on off-stump. Crawley shuffled across, defending nervously. Dot.
Ball 2: Aarav went wide of the crease. Angled in. Crawley left it alone. Dot.
Ball 3: A surprise yorker at 148 kmph. Crawley did well. He dug it out to mid-off. Aarav fielded it in his follow-through and stared at Crawley. Crawley looked away.
Sourav Ganguly: "You can see the fear. Crawley is not moving his feet. He is just reacting. He is waiting for the inevitable."
Ball 4: Aarav decided it was time. He ran in. He put extra effort into the release. 152.8 kmph. The ball started on a line outside off-stump. Crawley, expecting the away movement, planted his front foot straight down the pitch, leaving a gap between his bat and pad. But the ball didn't go away. It hooped back in. Massive inswing. It sliced through the gap—the 'gate'—like a hot knife through butter. Crawley's bat came down late. The ball had already passed it. CRASH. The middle and leg stumps were uprooted. Cartwheeling out of the ground.
Ravi Shastri (SCREAMING): "BOWLED HIM! THROUGH THE GATE! Aarav Pathak owns Zak Crawley! He has him in his pocket! It's the same old story! The inswinger destroys the stumps! Look at the stumps flying! India draws first blood in the chase!"
Nasser Hussain: "It's a technical flaw, but it's exploited by genius bowling. Crawley plants that foot, leaves the gap, and against someone bowling 150 kmph with swing... you are dead. Aarav Pathak celebrates. England 2 for 1."
Zak Crawley b Aarav 1 (6)Score: Eng 2/1
Ollie Pope walked out. The pressure was immense. 493 to get. 1 wicket down. Aarav was steaming.
Ball 5: Aarav greeted Pope with a length ball on off. Pope defended with soft hands. Dot.
Ball 6: Aarav went for the swing. Full, trying to swing it in. He overpitched slightly. Pope leaned into it. A beautiful flick through mid-wicket. He timed it perfectly. FOUR.
Score: Eng 6/1.
The early wicket usually signals a collapse, but Alex Lees and Ollie Pope decided to fight back. England's "Bazball" philosophy kicked in—if you block, you die. If you hit, you might survive.
For the next 8 overs, Kohli kept his premier pacers on. Bumrah and Aarav bowled in tandem, a relentless spell of high-speed bowling.
But England found the boundary.
Over 5 (Bumrah): Alex Lees stepped out and drove Bumrah through covers for FOUR. A brave shot.
Over 6 (Aarav): Pope cut a short ball over gully for FOUR. Risky, but effective.
Over 8 (Bumrah): Lees got a thick edge past slip for FOUR.
Commentary during Over 9:Harsha Bhogle: "This is good from England. They aren't going into a shell like the first innings. They are playing their shots. The scoreboard is moving."
Sunil Gavaskar: "But look at the bowling. Aarav is beating the bat every other ball. Bumrah is hitting the pads. It feels like a wicket is around the corner, even if boundaries are flowing."
Over 10: Aarav Pathak to Ollie Pope Aarav was into his 5th over. Sweat was trickling down his face. Ball 1: Beaten outside off. Ball 2: Pope drove to mid-off. Ball 3: Short ball. Pope pulled. Not timed well, but it cleared mid-wicket. 2 Runs.Ball 4: Aarav went full. Pope drove straight. FOUR.
England had moved to 36/1 in 10 overs. It was a decent recovery. They were scoring at 3.6 runs per over.
Michael Atherton: "Honors even in the first hour? India got the wicket they wanted, but England has put some runs on the board. Lees and Pope are looking relatively comfortable against the older new ball. Kohli might need to turn to Shami soon."
Score: Eng 36/1. Target: 495. Still Needed: 459 Runs.
Aarav walked to his fielding position at mid-on, wiping his face with a towel. He had taken the wicket, but England wasn't rolling over. This was going to be a long fight.
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The first hour had been frantic. Aarav Pathak had removed Zak Crawley, but England had counter-attacked to 36/1. The ball was still hard, but the initial shine was dulling. Virat Kohli decided to rotate his bowlers to keep the intensity at 100%.
He tossed the ball to Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. The seam-bowling workhorses.
Over 12: Mohammed Shami to Ollie Pope
Nasser Hussain: "Shami enters the attack. He has that upright seam presentation. Ollie Pope looks busy at the crease, but he tends to push at the ball early in his innings. India will have a slip cordon waiting."
Shami found his rhythm immediately. He hit the deck hard, getting the ball to nip away off the seam. Pope played and missed twice in the over. Maiden.
Over 15: Mohammed Siraj to Alex Lees
Siraj, running in with his infectious energy, bowled full. Lees drove him through mid-off for three runs. The outfield had slowed down slightly as the shadows lengthened.
Over 21
The partnership between Lees and Pope had added 40 runs. They were looking comfortable, playing the 'Bazball' way—looking for runs. England reached 76/1. But Shami is a partnership breaker.
Ball 4: Shami came round the wicket to Ollie Pope. He bowled a length delivery, angling in, but then straightening off the seam. Pope, on 23, was guilty of playing with hard hands. He tried to punch it through the off-side. The ball took the thick outside edge. It flew fast. It wasn't going to First Slip (Kohli) or Second Slip (Gill). It was flying wide to Third Slip.
Aarav Pathak, standing at third slip, reacted. He didn't dive; he didn't panic. He moved his hands sharply to his left, soft as velvet, and plucked the ball out of the air. It stuck in his palms like a magnet.
Harsha Bhogle: "Edged and Taken! Shami finds the edge, and Aarav Pathak makes no mistake in the cordon! Soft hands, sharp eyes. Ollie Pope was looking dangerous, but he has to go. India breaks the stand!"
Sunil Gavaskar: "That is excellent slip catching. He made it look easy, but that was traveling fast. Shami deserved that wicket; he has been beating the bat consistently."
Ollie Pope c Aarav b Shami 23 (38)Score: Eng 76/2
Joe Root walked out. The chant of "Roooooot" echoed around Edgbaston, but it was subdued. The mountain of 495 still loomed large.
Root joined Alex Lees. Kohli sensed a chance. He brought in a short leg. But Root and Lees decided to shut up shop. No more aggressive drives. No more risks. They played quietly. They rotated the strike with singles. Lees, having survived the initial burst from Aarav, looked set. He was leaving well and picking off the bad balls.
Overs 25-35: The run rate dropped. Ravindra Jadeja was brought on to rush through the overs. He bowled flat and accurate. Shardul Thakur bowled a spell of 4 overs, trying to induce a false shot with his golden arm, but Root was immovable.
Score: Eng 108/2. Alex Lees: 45* Joe Root: 18*
Nasser Hussain: "This is good from England. They have absorbed the pressure. Lees is playing a very mature innings. He's not getting sucked into the drive. Root is just accumulating. If they can end the day 2 down, they will believe."
Aarav and Shami too came again for another speed spell followed by Bumrah and Jadeja.
The sun was dipping lower. The shadows stretched across the pitch. 30 minutes left in the day's play. Virat Kohli looked at his Vice-Captain. Aarav had been fielding at mid-off, conserving energy. "One last burst, Pathak," Kohli said, tossing him the ball. "Try to Break this partnership."
Aarav took the ball. It was now a old ball. It was scuffed. But Aarav knew how to make it talk. Reverse Swing.
Over 52: Aarav Pathak to Alex Lees
Ball 1: Aarav ran in. 145 kmph. He hid the ball in his hand until the last moment. It tailed in late towards Lees' pads. Lees flicked it to square leg. Dot.
Ball 2: Reverse outswinger. Lees played inside the line. Dot.
Ball 3-6: Aarav bowled a consistent line. Lees defended. Maiden Over.
Over 54: Mohammed Shami Shami kept it tight from the other end. Root took a single. 1 Run.
Over 55: Aarav Pathak Another maiden. Aarav was probing Lees' defense, testing his patience. Maiden.
Over 56: Mohammed ShamiMaiden.
Sunil Gavaskar: "The pressure is immense. Runs have dried up completely. It's been 15 minutes without a boundary. Aarav and Shami are suffocating them."
Over 57: Aarav Pathak to Alex Lees
There were perhaps 4 overs left in the day. Lees was on 56. He had batted brilliantly. He thought he had done enough to see out the day. But Aarav had other plans.
Ball 1: Aarav steamed in. 148 kmph. He bowled wide of the crease, angling it in. Lees defended to mid-on. Dot.
Ball 2: Aarav went fuller. Lees drove to mid-off. Dot.
Ball 3: Aarav walked back to his mark. He polished the shiny side of the ball vigorously on his thigh. He ran in. The arm speed was electric. 150.4 kmph. He released the ball from close to the stumps. It started on a line outside off-stump. Alex Lees watched it. He judged the line. He thought it would hold its line or swing away with the angle. He decided to shoulder arms—a tactical leave to end the day safely.
But the ball didn't hold its line. It Reversed. It swung back in late. Wickedly late. It hooped in from outside off, traversing the air like a guided missile. Lees realized his mistake a fraction of a second too late. He tried to bring his bat down, panic in his eyes. The ball sneaked past the inside edge of the raised bat. CRASH. It smashed into the top of the off-stump.
The sound of the timber shattering echoed around the silent stadium.
Harsha Bhogle (Voice cracking): "BOWLED HIM! HE'S LEFT IT! AND IT'S COME BACK MILES! Aarav Pathak produces a moment of magic late in the day! Alex Lees shoulders arms to a ball that reverses back and knocks over the off-stump! That is absolute genius!"
Sunil Gavaskar: "That is the skill of a great bowler! He set him up with the away-going deliveries and then brought the big inswinger back with the old ball! Lees is distraught! He batted so well for his fifty, but he has been outfoxed by brilliance!"
Nasser Hussain: "You cannot leave that! Not against Aarav Pathak when the ball is reversing! That is a fatal error in judgment. England loses their set batsman right at the death! 3 down!"
Alex Lees b Aarav 56 (118)Score: Eng 161/3
STUMPS DAY 4.
Scorecard Summary:Target: 495 England 2nd Innings: 161/3 (50 Overs)
Studio Analysis
Harsha Bhogle: "India firmly in the driver's seat. England needs another 334 runs. India needs 7 wickets. The wicket of Alex Lees right at the end was the hammer blow. It opens the door for tomorrow."
Nasser Hussain: "It's going to be a massive task for England. Joe Root is the key. Bairstow is the key. But with the ball reversing and Aarav Pathak bowling like this? It looks grim for the home side."
Sunil Gavaskar: "Aarav Pathak's spell at the end was world-class. 150 kmph with reverse swing? That is Waqar Younis territory. India will sleep well tonight."
The players walked off. Aarav held the ball up to the crowd, acknowledging the cheers. He had broken the resistance. One day to go. History awaited.
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