Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team booked their place in the World Test Championship final as they thumped a hapless England by an innings and 25 runs at the Motera Stadium in Hyderabad.
Some incredible numbers from the Indian players #INDvENG | https://t.co/6OuUwURcgX pic.twitter.com/ysMk5l4IsI
— ICC (@ICC) March 6, 2021
The emphatic victory also meant that the hosts finish first in the WTC points table with 520 points. New Zealand, whom India will face in the final at the Lord's Stadium in June, are second with 420 points.
That victory against England means India finish the league phase of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship with a fine view from the top of the table #INDvENG | #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/rXFiKPXdB7
— ICC (@ICC) March 6, 2021
England's decision to bat first seemingly backfired, as they were bowled out for 205, with Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin leading the demolition job. Once India came out to bat, they were given a scare as they were reduced to 146/6 in the 59th over of their first innings.
However, the scenario got a new twist as Rishabh Pant scored a match-defining century on Day 2 and was supported by Washington Sundar, who missed out on his maiden Test ton as he remained unbeaten on 96.
Trailing by 160 runs, Joe Root and Co. made a horror start to their second innings as they lost three wickets for just 20 runs within the first ten overs. Going forward, it was just a crash course for England as Axar and Ashwin together bagged their fourth and third five-wicket hauls respectively in the series.
Two Indian bowlers with 5 wkts in same innings:
L Amarnath & V Mankad (v E, Manchester,1946)
S Gupte & V Mankad (v WI, K'ton,1953)
B Bedi & E Prasanna (v A, Delhi,1969)
Kapil & Ghavri (v A, Sydney,1981)
Kapil & Madan (v E, Mumbai,1981)
Axar & Ashwin (v E, A'bad, 2021)#INDvENG— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) March 6, 2021
Ravichandran Ashwin, in particular, played out one of the finest Test series of his career as he bagged his 30th five-wicket haul in just 78 Tests, an astonishing 32 wickets in the India-England Test series, and also equalled Rangana Herath’s tally of most fifers in a winning cause in Tests - 25.
Most wickets by R Ashwin in a Test series:
32 : #INDvENG , 2020/21*
31 : v South Africa (in India), 2015/16
29 : v Australia (in India), 2012/13— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 6, 2021
Most 5-fors coming in won Tests:
41 : M Muralitharan
27 : Shane Warne
25 : R Ashwin*
25 : R Herath#INDvsENG— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 6, 2021
Axar Patel, on the other hand, recorded a memorable Test series debut for India, as he bagged 27 wickets, thus equalling Dilip Doshi’s 41-year-old record of 27 wickets against Australia in 1979/80.
Most wickets in debut Test series for India:
27 : Axar Patel v Eng, 2020/21* (3 Tests)
27 : Dilip Doshi v Aus, 1979/80 (6 Tests)
24 : Shivlal Yadav v Aus, 1979/80 (5 Tests)
22 : R Ashwin v WI, 2011/12 (3 Tests)#INDvENG— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 6, 2021
Head coach Ravi Shastri went on record to heap praise on Rishabh Pant, commending him for his hard work despite the backlash for his past performances.
‘Yesterday‘s innings is probably the best counter-attacking innings I’ve seen in India, by an Indian batsmen’.
Ravi Shastri speaking about Rishabh Pant’s incredible innings. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/WNrWasZfXu— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 6, 2021
Here’s how Twitter reacted to India’s commanding victory.
Never in doubt #OnOn #INDvsENG https://t.co/DxWgO8i5p4
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 6, 2021
Congratulations Team India on an awesome Test Series victory.
England didn't lose it in Ahmedabad.
They lost it here .#INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/NXb1AxCHen— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 6, 2021
0-1 down in the series to winning it 3-1 Character-Belief-Faith. Complete team effort. India India india ❤️ #INDvsENG
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) March 6, 2021
India have been far too good ... the last 3 Tests they have absolutely hammered England ... If they can win in England they are without doubt the best Test team of this era ... but that will take some doing against the swinging ball ... #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 6, 2021
Fantastic victory #TeamIndia!
Many congratulations on reaching the #WTCFinal.Absolutely enjoyed the way each player contributed in every department throughout the series, especially @RishabhPant17, @Sundarwashi5, @akshar2026, @ashwinravi99 & @ImRo45.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/y1gwRn3cKR
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 6, 2021
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sajjad Hussain
