India complete two-day victory over England on remarkable day of Test cricket

Credit: BCCI

England were once again blown away by India’s spinners as the hosts resisted a Joe Root-inspired fightback to complete a comfortable 10-wicket victory on a day that saw 17 wickets fall.

Joe Root took his maiden five-for as England claimed seven wickets in the morning session, before Axar Patel and Ravi Ashwin continued to dominate with the ball, leaving India to chase just 49 to take a 2-1 series lead in a match that witnessed less runs than New Zealand’s T20 victory over Australia on Thursday morning.

Beginning the day on 99-3, India had just passed England’s first innings total before Ajinkya Rahane became the next batsmen to be trapped LBW to a ball that skidded on, this time by Jack Leach who claimed his third wicket. The next over, Leach removed the danger man Rohit Sharma in similar fashion for 66 to give England the perfect start to the day.

Jack Leach claimed the crucial wicket of Rohit Sharma early on day two. Credit: ESPNcricinfo

In a move perhaps highlighting England’s mistake in not picking a second spinner, captain Joe Root came on to ball his handy part-time off spin and removed Rishabh Pant with his first ball caught behind well by Ben Foakes as India lost three wickets for just three runs.

Ravi Ashwin counter-attacked with a a couple of boundaries, but Root soon dismissed Washington Sundar with an unplayable delivery that Graeme Swann would have been proud of, pitching on middle and crashing into off stump.

Root was not finished there either, taking his figures onto 3-0 as Axar Patel could only pick out Dom Sibley with an aggressive drive without scoring. Ashwin’s resistance was soon ended for 17 by Root following a top-edged sweep that found Zak Crawley at deep square leg. The England captain completed a remarkable morning for the tourists by taking the final wicket of Jasprit Bumrah LBW as India were all out for 145, adding just 46 runs from their overnight score for the loss of seven wickets.

Joe Root had brought England back into the match. Credit: England Cricket

Unbelievably, Root finished with figures of 5-8 from 6.2 overs, his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and the first England captain since Bob Willis in 1983 to take five wickets in an innings, as England from a position of despair found themselves just 33 runs behind on first innings. However, India had not lost a home Test after taking a first-innings lead in 65 matches since 2000.

England’s innings got off to the worst possible start as Zak Crawley, the one man who showed some form in the first innings, was cleaned up first ball by Axar Patel. Jonny Bairstow only survived an Axar hat-trick across the two innings on review, before also being bowled by the left-arm spinner the very next delivery to leave England 0-2 after three deliveries. In doing so, Bairstow also marked his return to the Test team with a pair.

Jonny Bairstow endured a miserable return to the side. Credit: Sky Sports

After a short period of respite, Dom Sibley fell caught behind to an uncharacteristic slog sweep, with the opener’s review in vain. Once more England’s top order problems, particularly against left-arm spin as in Sri Lanka, became worryingly exposed.

Root and Ben Stokes looked to be on the front foot as they rebuilt and edged England into a lead, though the England captain survived an extremely tight LBW review with the third umpire overturning the on-field decision by judging the ball had hit bat before pad.

Ashwin soon continued his dominance in his battle with Stokes, who had played well for his 25 before being trapped LBW. Root soon followed, plumb LBW to Axar for 19 as the reality set in of a conclusion within just two days was well on the cards.

Ollie Pope never looked comfortable at the crease for his 12 runs before being bowled by Ashwin for the second time in the match. With the pitch offering unpredictable turn, once again an English batsman was out on the straight ball playing for the spin, perhaps a psychological hangover from the Chennai pitch.

Ravi Ashwin then became the second quickest player to achieve 400 Test wickets as Jofra Archer’s stay at the crease lasted just two balls to leave England 68-7, with a lead of just 35. Ben Foakes became the latest to be done by a straight ball as Axar Patel claimed his 11th wicket in the match and claim his third five-wicket haul in just his second Test.

A wild drive by Jack Leach slipped had England nine down, before James Anderson was caught behind attempting an audacious reverse sweep off Washington Sundar’s fourth delivery, the first bowling change in the innings after 30 overs.

Ravi Ashwin celebrates his 400th Test wicket. Credit: BCCI

England finished 81 all out, their lowest total in a Test in India, and in failing to amass 200 runs across both innings set India just 49 to win the Test match. 28 of the 30 wickets fell to spin, quite the turnaround from the last day-night Test match in the country, where an Indian spinner failed to take a wicket.

Jack Leach and Joe Root opened the bowling for England with the faintest hopes of pulling off an extraordinary victory, but a combination of some loose bowling and positive stroke play soon quashed any such hopes.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill eased India to a comfortable 10-wicket victory, chasing 49 in less than eight overs, with Rohit sealing the victory in style with a six over mid-wicket just five overs into the final session on day two.

Joe Root left to ponder over England’s batting woes and team selection. Credit: ESPNcricinfo

Axar Patel claimed the man-of-the-match award for his match figures of 11-70 as India take a 2-1 series lead ahead of the final Test, in which England will be hoping to bounce back to draw the series.

In losing in Ahmedabad, England can no longer qualify for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, with India just needing to draw the final Test to take the place of Australia at Lord’s.

While questions will certainly be asked over the quality of the pitch for a five-day Test match, England will be left to reflect on what was a disappointing batting performance, particularly after winning the toss and being 74-2 on the first morning.

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