Contributing factors for India's victory at Trent Bridge

India thrashed England by 203 runs in the third Test at Trent Bridge. Kohli's men were clinical in all the three departments and the final result elucidated the same.

Let's have a look at the factors which contributed to India's victory at Trent Bridge.

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Joe Root put India in to bat on winning the toss

English skipper won the toss and invited India to bat first on a pitch which was ideal for batting. This was a blessing in disguise for India as even Kohli was looking to bat first on the flaccid track.

Historically, most of the overseas wins for India had come when they had batted first as chasing in the fourth innings had never been their cup of tea.

Openers provide a solid start

Dhawan shines with the bat

Indian openers provided an ideal start for the Indians and put forth 60 runs on the board in either innings. Trent Bridge did not offer as much swing as Lords but the new ball always kept the pace bowlers interested. India openers played watchfully in the first hour of play when the ball was zagging around viciously.

They ensured that India did not lose any wicket in this passage of play. This effort paid dividends. By the time middle order batsmen arrived at the crease, the ball had lost its shine and shot making became easier.

Indian middle order comes to party

Rahane played a crucial knock in both the innings

Indian middle order was due for big innings and they did not disappoint the Indian fans. Rahane was involved in 159 run partnership with Kohli in the first innings. Pujara joined hands with Kohli to register another 100 plus partnership in the second innings.

The quantum of runs scored by the middle order ensured that Indian bowlers for the first time in the series had enough runs on board to defend.

Catching behind the stumps was remarkable

Slip catching was top notch

Young Pant was terrific behind the stumps and he accounted for seven catches in the match. Catching in the slips cordon, especially by Rahul was terrific. He took seven catches in the match and looked liked the next Laxman in the making.

Pandya proved his worth as an all-rounder

Pandya accounted for 6 wickets in the match

Before the Trent Bridge Test, there were talks about replacing Pandya with a genuine batsman like Karun Nair. Kohli backed Pandya as his fourth seamer option and it paid off really well.

He bowled a hostile spell of out-swing bowling in the first innings and dismissed five English batsmen in just six overs. In the second innings when India were looking to declare, he hit a quickfire 50 runs.

Bumrah magic in the second innings

Bumrah took 5 wickets in the second innings

England lost first four wickets for the addition of just 62 runs in the first session on Day 3. It looked as if the match was heading for an early finish. Things changed dramatically in the post-lunch session as the ball lost its shine and stroke making became easy. Stokes and Buttler blunted the Indian pace attack by stitching together a record-breaking partnership of 169 runs.

Kohli immediately took the new ball when it was available in the post-tea session. Bumrah just in his second over with the new ball wrecked havoc on the English batsmen. First, he removed the centurion Buttler and then castled Bairstow with the very next ball. Bumrah finally finished with 5/85.

Kohli's men would be brimming with confidence going into the fourth Test. The series is wide open now and India has every right in believing that they can draw or even win it.