Kolkata: India finished the third day of the first Test in Headingley at a strong 90/2, thanks to a strong 66-run second wicket partnership between KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan and a streaky yet daring 99 from Harry Brook that helped England reduce India's first innings lead to just six runs.

Despite a few subpar catches from the slip cordon, Jasprit Bumrah managed to equalize Kapil Dev's record of the most five-wicket hauls (12) by an Indian in away tests by finishing with 5/83, playing about half the number of tests (34) than Kapil did (66) to achieve that milestone. On a gloomy day in Yorkshire, India responded with a strong batting display. With over an hour remaining in the day, India held a 96-run advantage when the rain interfered.

Sudharsan was on 24 before he hit an inswinging ball from Ben Stokes to Zak Crawley at short midwicket, where Ben Duckett dropped him off Josh Tongue's bowling at backward point.

In keeping with the day's overall theme, Brook nearly brought England beyond India's first innings by scoring at an incredible rate and utilizing three lives. Brook was dismissed twice on Sunday, first when Rishabh Pant grassed a catch off Ravindra Jadeja at 46 and then when Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped a shoulder-level edge at gully on 80, after a fortunate Bumrah overstep saved him on Saturday.

Mohammed Siraj made repeated attempts to divert Brook by giving him an earful, but Brook wasn't one to let those chances pass him by, and he maintained his aggressive stance. He had overcome a leg-before appeal in Jadeja's bowling, but Brook began to let loose once the new ball was brought in. Prior to Jaiswal's drop of Brook at gully, Siraj had been hit for four straight boundaries.

Siraj returned, but he was immediately lifted over his head for a massive six. Then, the ball was hit with such force by a square cut that the deep point had given up the chase as soon as it left the bat. The short ball trap to the leg-side was the only thing that worked for the entire day for the Indian quick bowlers, as this time Brook was unable to outgun Shardul Thakur at deep backward square leg after pulling Prasidh Krishna.

That was Prasidh's third wicket of the innings, as he took centurion Ollie Pope in the first session with a short, wide delivery that should have been punished but only managed to catch Pant behind the stumps. However, England kept chipping away at India's total as Stokes and Jamie Smith helped the home side score 118 runs in the first session's 28 overs. Siraj scalped Stokes, but Smith then took on India's bowling, carting Prasidh for a four and a massive six over square-leg to keep England moving. Prasidh kept testing Smith, even if it cost a few more runs, and parked a fielder, which led to a flash of inspiration. He eventually tripped, but not before Jadeja demonstrated some athleticism by hurling the ball to Sudharsan as soon as he saw he was approaching the boundary rope.

India gained a foothold in England's innings when Brook also holed out at the same spot. At least, that's what they believed. In only 7.2 overs, Chris Woakes, who has a century to his name, against India at Lord's in 2018, scored 55 runs for the eighth wicket with Brydon Carse, leaving India exhausted. It's one thing to resist the bowling, but Woakes's batting was on par with that of an expert, especially when he drove Bumrah for a four. And India appeared a little agitated when Woakes smashed Prasidh for a boundary to put England over the 400 mark.

Emboldened by Woakes's struggle, Carse also hit a couple of boundaries before Woakes smashed Prasidh for a six. As England surged toward India's total, the fifty-run stand was completed in just 36 pitches. However, after Siraj cleared Carse with a yorker, Bumrah wasted no time in finishing his third five-wicket haul in England by dismissing Woakes and Josh Tongue.

With only two days remaining, the Test was now headed for a single-innings shootout. Therefore, it was crucial that India had a strong start. However, Carse responded well by returning Jaiswal, who was in excellent form, in the fourth over. Carse delivered a fantastic ball, which landed just shy of a decent length and seamed away late in the delivery. Jaiswal couldn't help but push it even though he was already moving.

With perfect skill and method in getting behind every ball and playing with a straight bat, KL Rahul batted as though his life were on the line. Rahul made place for Woakes when he shortened his length and cut. Rahul only caressed the ball through covers for four when he bowled fuller.

However, the highlight was the boundary he scored off Carse, displaying the full face of the bat for an on drive that screamed past Sudharsan. And Rahul seemed unstoppable after he followed it up with an equally beautiful boundary through cover for four more. Sudharsan was also displaying potential during the majority of his brief innings. Until Stokes was able to recreate that leg-side trap.

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