R Ashwin has rejoined India in Rajkot

At the beginning of the third session on the fourth day, Ashwin entered the field.

On the fourth day of the ongoing third Test against England, off-spinner R Ashwin returned to the Indian team in Rajkot. He had left the city at the end of the second day's play for personal reasons and missed the entirety of the third day's play.

With England 18 for 2 in pursuit of 557, he rejoined the team at the start of the third session.

Despite spending a full day off the field, Ashwin was immediately available to bowl on his return. Umpires can waive penalty time if they feel a player has been off the field for "other acceptable reasons not including illness or internal injury", according to the playing conditions.

Ashwin took his 500th wicket in Test cricket on the second day of the Rajkot Test and attended the post-match press conference. The news of Ashwin leaving the team only became public at 11pm IST through a statement from the BCCI.

On the third day, England began their innings at 207 for 2 in 35 overs in response to India's first-innings total of 445, with opener Ben Duckett scoring a century at a run rate of more than one per ball. Despite Ashwin's absence, India fought back and took eight wickets for 112 runs on the third day, securing a first-innings lead of 126.

India's batters extended the lead to 556 before declaring during the second session of play, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring 104 before retiring hurt with a back niggle and Shubman Gill remaining unbeaten on 65.