Ravi Shastri has his say on why Ravindra Jadeja fell prey to controversial lbw call on Day 3 of Hyderabad Test vs England

India hold a strong advantage in the first Test, sitting comfortably with a 60-run lead at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. While England have nudged up to 120-3, they face a daunting task of chasing down a massive 190-run first-inning deficit. To win, they'll need to exhibit significantly greater batting prowess in the second innings.

England must first erase the 190-run deficit before they can even dream of setting India a competitive target. However, they've shown improvement today with smarter shot selection compared to their first innings. While Zak Crawley (31) and Ben Duckett (47) fell before reaching half-centuries, Ollie Pope remains unbeaten on 36. The key dismissal for India was Joe Root, trapped LBW by the ever-threatening Jasprit Bumrah.

Controversy around Jadeja's dismissal

Earlier, India resumed proccedings on Day 3 with their score being 421-7. Ravindra Jadeja was batting on 82 but India's hopes for a Jadeja century dashed just 13 runs short. Batting on 82, Jadeja's attempt at a forward defense saw the ball clip his front pad, leading to an LBW call. He reviewed, and tension filled the air as DRS showed a spike on ultraedge when the ball passed the willow. However, the TV umpire remained inconclusive, unable to definitively say whether bat or pad came first. The on-field decision stood, much to the disappointment of both Jadeja and the eager crowd anticipating his signature sword celebration.

Adding his voice to the Day 3 drama, former India head coach Ravi Shastri concurred with the LBW decision that denied Ravindra Jadeja his century by a tantalizing 13 runs. Shastri, now on commentary duty, shed light on why the call went against the all-rounder and why the benefit of the doubt wasn't granted. He explained that with DRS unable to conclusively overturn the on-field decision, the umpire's original call stood. In such scenarios, where technology remains ambiguous, the on-field call holds sway. Had the initial decision been not out, Jadeja would've continued his march towards the coveted milestone.

Shastri's insights, along with the lingering disappointment at Jadeja's dismissal, add another layer to the captivating narrative of this Test match. As England battles to overcome a sizable deficit and India seeks to tighten its grip on the game, the rest of the day promises to be another nail-biting affair.