Credit: BCCI
On March 6, 2021, India hammered England by an innings and 25 runs in the final Test, played in Ahmedabad and bagged the four-match Test series with a 3-1 margin. England’s frailty against spinners came out in the open again as they lost 18 wickets to turners in the contest. Batting first after winning the toss, England captain Joe Root elected to bat first. Axar Patel launched an attack from India and removed Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley in quick succession. Pacer Mohammed Siraj also took advantage of the visitors’ perilous situation and bagged the scalps of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow. Ben Stokes along with Ollie Pope stood at the crease and stitched a 45-run stand. Stokes went on to score a fifty but couldn’t take his innings ahead after scoring 55.
Riding on spinners’ extraordinary show, India folded England on 205. Patel became the highest wicket-taker in the innings (4/68 in 26 overs). Ravichandran Ashwin also grabbed 3/47 figures in his 19.5 overs. Washington Sundar also took the crucial wicket of Stokes. Following the total, India posted 365 runs on the board with the assistance of Rishabh Pant, who notched up his third Test century. Sundar kept up his excellent work in the game as he scored an unbeaten 96 off 174.
Ashwin and Patel sealed victory for India with their valiant bowling in the second innings
In the second innings, Ashwin allied with Patel and bundled out the English side on 135 only. Both spinners clinched fifers respectively to deliver India a comprehensive win. Ashwin’s 5/47 included the key scalps of England batters Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root.
Rishabh Pant was awarded the player of the match (POTM) award for his stunning hundred while Ashwin, who racked up 189 runs and 32 wickets, received the player of the series award. Ashwin concluded the competition as the leading wicket-taker in the series.
