Five things England need to change to draw level in the series
An all-round team effort saw India go 2-0 up in the series as England, who started the series on a bright note, seem to have lost their motivation to win. A lacklustre display at Mohali, despite getting to win the toss and bat first, sprung back memories of England's disastrous Bangladesh tour prior to this series.
The visitors had been guilty of letting the game flow in Vizag but here, they seemed to run out of answers against the Ashwin and Jadeja duo even when they held the willow in hand.
It seemed like a balanced game when India floundered their chance with the bat after bowling out England for 283 on a good batting track. But from 204/6, Indian spinners Ashwin, Jadeja and Jayant Yadav took India to a formidable, if not imposing, 417. The lead turned out to be a significant one and sealed England's fate.
Also read: 5 Talking Points from the 3rd Test in Mohali
It is surprising that the vigour and energy the visitors showed to destroy India's top order, vanished as soon as Ashwin and Jadeja got together. It seemed that England were lured into a spell by the Indian spinners, so much so that the mere sight of them is enough to bring jitters to the English camp.
England head out to Mumbai and Chennai next for the fourth and fifth Test, knowing that India have an unassailable lead in the series. But can the visitors turn things around and level the series?
Here is a look at some of the things that England have to do to regain a hold in the series.
#5 Build partnerships and fight
Several times in the series, England have found themselves having just one player scoring big, while the rest have faded off. Interestingly, Cook, Root, Moeen Ali, Hameed, Stokes and Bairstow have had one good knock at one time or the other in the series.
But, except at Rajkot, none of them have clicked in tandem to create worries in the Indian camp. In Mohali, they had Bairstow in the first innings and Joe Root in the second playing superb individual innings respectively, but sadly neither got any support from their teammates and the lack of partnerships eventually led to their dismissal.
If England need to win or at least draw a match in this series, they need to bat well and bat in pairs. Unless and until they get some big partnerships going, they will not have India panicking.