Late Riser team India resuscitated and acquired an emphatic triumph at Trent Bridge
In recent times or even in past times we have seen that India is always a late-riser in the away tours. They took too many times to adjust in the foreign conditions, and it's not an abnormal thing, it's natural. At the ab-ovo of the year, in South Africa tour, Kohli-Shashtri's team India squandered first two Test matches as they couldn't adjust in that condition and then they gave a fightback and won the last Test match. But in the ultimate result, they lost the three-match test series by 1-2 to RSA. But they didn't take the lesson and did the same faux pas in England. There was almost 14 days gap between the ODI series and Test series in England this time, but Shastri-Kohli decided not to play practice matches and practiced only in nets. they have played only a 3-day unofficial practice match against Essex before the starting of the Test series. And then what happened, the result is in front of the world. In first two tests, India has fall flat to England, especially in the second Test in Lords, England just thrashed India with an innings win.
Before the starting of this Third Test, India was in a humongous trouble. None of the batsmen were in form except skipper Kohli, bowlers also had a hard times in Lords, team selection was in a muddle as Kohli selected erroneous team each time in the last two tests. It's only because of the dearth of match practice in the English weather. Media persons of India and even England, ex-cricketers, cricket-experts, fans all were started to criticize extremely to coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli.
In this dismal situation, Kohli lost the toss in the Trent Bridge. England choose to field first in a typical crisp English morning. And, after that in this third Test of the series at Trent Bridge, nothing went wrong for India. Everything has perfectly happened for India in this Test. After an eon, openers gave a fine start. Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul added 60 runs for the first wicket and sustained almost 16 overs of England fast bowlers. Then in the middle order, Captain Virat and Vice Captain Rahane added 159 runs in 4th wicket stand. Rahane played a sensational innings of 81-runs, after 13 innings he got a half century; while Kohli missed a well deserved century by only 3 runs. India posted a fighting total of 329 runs on the board.
In replying India, England bundled out on just 161 runs. Hardik Pandiya took his maiden five-for in Tests. Besides him, all the Indian fast bowlers, Ishant, Shami, and Bumrah bowled excellently. Bumrah played his first match in England after recovering from his injury and bowled in an average of 142-144 km/hr i.e, fastest among all the bowlers of both India and England. He is looking astute and fluent.
In the last couple of weeks, the most criticized cricketer of India was Hardik Pandya, and in this test, Hardik pulled his weight and performed his heart out at Trent Bridge. He got those 5 wickets in the span of only 29 balls, including big fishes like Root and Bairstow. In the second day morning, there was a favorable weather for the fast bowling and Hardik used it well. He got in an average of 2.2-degree swing, which is greater than that of Anderson, Broad or Woakes.
With a 168-runs lead, India started its second innings and once again openers gave India a nice start. KL Rahul and Dhawan may not have scored big, but they made a stage where the middle order can capitalize towards a big score. In second innings Pujara also got runs (72) and skipper made his 23rd century in Tests, a trailblazing innings. Virat is in his apex now, his crave for runs is just sensational. It's his second century in this series. After that Hardik also played a dominating run-a-ball innings of 52 runs. India declared and gave a mammoth 529 runs-target to England.
Two days were left in the Test match, so that save this test match was then beyond the bounds of possibility for England. India's win was just a matter of time. At last, England has survived almost 105 overs and ultimately India won the match by 203 runs to make the scoreline 1-2 in the series. 
In the second innings, Bumrah made his mark by his outstanding bowling. He got his second 5-wicket haul in just his 4th Test - second Indian to do so after Monoj Pravakar.
If it was Kohli who erred at Lord's by picking an extra spinner in seamer-friendly conditions and then proceeded to lose the toss before caving in for 107, here Root's generosity helped India. But that can take nothing away from the visitors' professional performance right through the game. They outplayed the hosts in all three departments of the game and richly deserve the victory.
After the pin-prick innings defeat in Lords, India has played a par-excellence cricket at Trent Bridge and ticked all of the boxes. It's an invincible performance in a away series by India and this win will consider as one of the best away Test match win by India. By winning this match, Virat passed Sourav Ganguly for the most Tests win as an Indian Captain. It's 22nd Test match win for Virat Kohli, Dada has 22 wins and now Virat is only behind of MS Dhoni.
27 - MS Dhoni (60 matches)
22* - V Kohli (38)
21 - S Ganguly (49)
14 - M Azharuddin (47)
What are the positives for India in this Test?
In this Test match, everything was positive for India. Openers are starting well, just they have to convert it into big. The masters of grit, Pujara, and Rahane, are back amongst the runs and have contributed handsomely in this win. Kohli is in his best form of life, already scored 440 runs in this test series.
Pandya also found his form both in batting and bowling and makes a statement in this match about his all-round ability.
Fast bowlers have been really doing well for India since the RSA tour. Ishant Sharma is now playing a spearhead role in the attack and bowling really well. And Bumrah, after returning from the injury, snatches the limelight in the last innings.
Slip Catching and Wicket Keeping was just to a tee for India. When England dropped so many catches in the slip in this match, India didn't miss any. Debutant young talent Keeper-Batsman Rishabh Pant and slip fielder KL Rahul took 7 catches each and it's a record. At last India seem to have found a capable slip fielder even though KL's primary responsibility is still to get runs with the bat.
Pant looked very impressive both as a keeper and a batsman. He started his career in a unique way. Just second ball of test cricket he was facing, Adil Rashid was the bowler, he read the googly of Rashid and danced down the pitch and hit a big six. He is the first Indian cricketer to open his account with an over-boundary, such a courageous mindset he has.
India's only concern is Ashwin's injury, though he has more than a week to recover.
What can we expect in this series?
After losing the first two tests when everyone was condemning team India, at that moment India performed like an injured wolf and gave the rejoinder to every critic. It's like rising to the bait! Now the scoreline is 1-2, India is still lag behind England.
In RSA, there were three-match Test series, so India had no chance to level the series, but here still two tests to go. We, the fans of Indian cricket can expect at least a series-draw, if not win.
All of a sudden there are so many problems for England. Top order and even the bowling as England couldn't bowl India out even in fine bowling conditions. I think that England's bowlers are less effective on non-swinging or less swinging pitches. We have seen the same in Australia as well as in recent times. England has some tough decisions to make, in terms of team composition, injuries and more importantly, catching.
Now, there are 8 days to go before the next Test. England also will definitely try to come back strongly in the next match. So, we can expect a cracking cricket action between the top two teams in the world.
In the last couple of weeks, it's proved that Test cricket is still alive and you can't replace the beauty of Test cricket. It's the highest level skill-test for a cricketer. In this series, we have seen an amazing exhibition for the longer format! Four-day games are being considered, to keep up with our fast-moving world. Not taking sides here, but there's something that appeals to the inner cricket romantic when a Test match tips over into the final day with the fourth innings in progress.
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