England, currently leading the series 2–1, won the toss with stand‑in captain Ollie Pope and chose to field first on what was seen as a bowler-friendly pitch under cloudy skies . The day was heavily interrupted by rain, creating a slow, fragmented atmosphere despite a packed 30,000-strong crowd . India ended the day on 204 for 6 after 64 overs.
They steadied the innings from a shaky 123/5, thanks to a gritty half-century from Karun Nair, who has returned to the side after a long absence (his first fifty in 3,148 days) . He shared a vital 50-run partnership with Washington Sundar, helping India recover some composure . Meanwhile, Shubman Gill, India’s young captain, was dismissed for 21 via a bizarre run-out from Gus Atkinson, marking a costly moment in the innings . On the bowling front, Gus Atkinson impressed, picking up key wickets and executing sharp fielding, while Josh Tongue took two wickets with some unplayable deliveries early on .
Chris Woakes, England’s most consistent bowler, sustained a concerning shoulder injury while fielding late in the day and may be ruled out for the remainder of the Test .
