IND vs ENG, 3rd Test, Day 4: India's Yashasvi Jaiswal Cruises to Historic Double Century, Smashes Records Galore

There seems to be no stopping Yashasvi Jaiswal, who continues to create tidal waves in the world of Test cricket with his swashbuckling batting skills, as he notched up the second double century of his Test career today against England in the third Test of the five-match series.

Jaiswal got off to a cautious start yesterday when India began their second innings, playing a calm game and scoring just 18 runs off his first 50 deliveries. But, since then, the opener kicked into another gear, accelerating to score 70 runs off the next 50 balls he faced.

Jaiswal then reached his century, the third of his career, with a four and jumped high while punching the air, all pumped up. However, three overs later, the youngster began holding his back while looking visibly uncomfortable summoning the team physio.

Ultimately, he retied hurt, giving way for Shubman Gill to take his place as he rested for the remainder of the day.

But, on Day 4, with the unfortunate fall of Shubman Gill, Jaiswal came back in and with the aide of debutant Sarfaraz Khan took to the English bowlers punishing them at will for boundaries and sixes galore.

His attacking arsenal was at full display for all to witness as after he reached his 150, Jaiswal took on talisman pacer James Anderson, punishing him for three sixes in three consecutive balls, leaving the veteran speechless.

Enroute to his historic 200, Jaiswal etched his name into history as well, becoming the first ever batter in Test cricket to score 20 sixes across a single Test series.

He also becomes the batter to have smashed the most sixes in a single Test innings, having scored 12 sixes, equalling the record set by Pakistan’s Wasim Akram back in 1996 against Zimbabwe.

With his punishment of Anderson, Jaiswal also became the fifth Indian batter to score three sixes in a single over of a Test match.

Jaiswal also became just the third Indian batter ever to score double centuries in consecutive Tests, after Vinod Kambli and Virat Kohli.

In yet another historic landmark for the 21-year-old, Jaiswal also became the top left-handed batter for India to score the most runs in a single Test series, notching up 545 runs so far in this series, overtaking the precious record of 534 runs scored by the legendary Sourav Ganguly back in 2007 against Pakistan.

Under the watchful eyes of Jaiswal and a fiery Sarfaraz, India’s lead blossomed to 556 runs, setting a mammoth target of 557 for the visitors England who will have a mountain to climb in their chase.

This is the 25th instance of England conceding a 500+ runs lead at the end of the third innings. They have gone on to lose 22 of the previous 24 with two draws, coming in 1939 and 1947.

And with the return of veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who just reached his milestone 500th wicket, India will be coming in with their spirits high as ever, to dismiss the English batters and clinch the win to break away from the tied series.