NEW DELHI: India trounced England by a monumental 434 runs in the third Test, seizing a commanding 2-1 lead in the series on Sunday.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
‘s unbeaten double century and a stellar five-wicket haul by
Ravindra Jadeja
proved pivotal in India’s record-breaking triumph.
Facing a daunting target of 557 runs for victory, England’s batting lineup crumbled under the relentless pressure imposed by the Indian bowlers, collapsing to a mere 122 all out during a tumultuous final session on day four in Rajkot.
SCORECARD: India vs England, 3rd Test
In terms of runs, this was also India’s largest victory in Test cricket, surpassing their previous victory against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in 2021 by 372.
Jadeja’s decisive dismissal of Mark Wood for 33 epitomized India’s dominance as they clinched their largest-ever Test win in terms of runs.
England’s top order faltered early, with openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley falling cheaply, while Jadeja wreaked havoc with his left-arm spin, dismantling the middle-order.
Not even the experienced duo of Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root could stem the tide, departing for just four and seven runs respectively.
Captain
Ben Stokes
offered some resistance but succumbed to Kuldeep Yadav’s guile for 15 runs in his landmark 100th Test appearance.
Meanwhile, Jaiswal’s monumental knock of 214 off 236 balls in India’s second innings was the centerpiece of their commanding performance. Returning to bat after retiring hurt on 104 due to back pain, Jaiswal’s jubilant celebration upon reaching his second consecutive double century epitomized his dominance.
His innings, embellished with a record-equalling 12 sixes, including three consecutive hits off James Anderson, underscored his prowess with the bat. Jaiswal’s stellar partnership with debutant Sarfaraz Khan, who contributed 68 runs, further solidified India’s grip on the match.
With a total of 545 runs in the series so far, Jaiswal stands as the leading batsman, showcasing his exceptional form and match-winning capabilities.
India’s victory was set up by their bowlers, who skittled out England for 319 despite the absence of
Ravichandran Ashwin
, who left the Test midway on day two due to a medical emergency.
Ashwin’s return to the field and subsequent milestone of claiming his 501st Test wicket, becoming only the ninth bowler in history and the second Indian after Anil Kumble to achieve this feat, added another dimension to India’s resounding success.
Led by skipper
Rohit Sharma
‘s 131 and a valiant century by Jadeja, India posted a formidable total of 445 in the first innings after opting to bat.
Following a narrow defeat in the series opener, India’s resurgence in the subsequent matches has been remarkable.
As the series moves to Ranchi for the fourth Test starting on Friday, India will seek to maintain their momentum and clinch the series, while England will be eager to stage a comeback and level the scores in what promises to be another riveting encounter.
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(With inputs from AFP)
