Team India has managed to win the fourth and final Test against England within three days as the hosts wrapped up the series 3-1. With this win, India has also entered the final of the maiden World Test Championship (WTC) where they will face New Zealand at Lord’s in June this year. It was yet another dismal performance by the England batsmen who were folded for just 135 runs in the second innings.
Earlier on Day 3, India resumed at 294/7, and Washington Sundar, along with Axar Patel, frustrated the visiting team extending the team’s lead. The duo added 106 runs for the 8th wicket playing sumptuous shots in the first hour of the day leaving the visitors helpless. However, just when one felt that the Indian team will be extending the lead beyond 200 runs, they fell apart not adding even a single run once the 8th wicket fell.
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Axar got run out in a mix-up with his partner and in the next over itself, Ben Stokes dismissed Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj for ducks. Sundar, at the other end, was stranded at 96 as India eventually got bundled out for 365 runs, 160 runs ahead of England in the first innings. Sundar missed out a well-deserved ton during 174-ball stay where he hit 10 fours and a six.
The English batsmen were looking in some mental trouble and frailties in their technique were once again exposed. The surface wasn’t unplayable by any means and the duo of Ravi Ashwin and Axar Patel literally made them dance to their tunes throughout the innings. The former sent back three of the top four English batsmen while the left-arm spinner, playing in his debut series, took care of the middle and lower-middle order.
Both the Indian spinners equally spoiled the party for the visitors taking five wickets each to their tally. While Axar ended the series with a massive 27 wickets in three matches, Ashwin picked 32 scalps in four Tests. As far as England is concerned, their batsmen didn’t look equipped to face quality spin and by the time they came out to bat in the second innings, it was all but over.
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They were bundled out for just 135 runs in 54.5 overs losing the game by an innings and 25 runs and losing the series by 3-1 despite winning the opening Test.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to India’s series win:
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
Congratulations team India 🇮🇳 for winning test series by 3-1. Also, qualifying for the final of the ICC world test championship @BCCI #INDvsENG
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) March 6, 2021
https://twitter.com/rgcricket/status/1368145332966551553?s=20
So, India scheduled to play their next 6 tests in England. #WTC then #IndiaTourofEngland
— Nikhil Naz (@NikhilNaz) March 6, 2021
1983: Kapil Dev led India to their maiden World Cup finals
2000: Ganguly led India to their maiden Champions trophy finals
2007: Dhoni led India to their maiden WT20 finals
2021: Kohli led India to their maiden WTC finals
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) 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
Test ke hai 3 din
Baaki hai bekar din!Congratulations Team India for the series win and for qualifying for the Final of #WorldTestChampionship 🇮🇳#INDvENG
— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349) March 6, 2021
Too good India ..too good .. once again fighting back and having a lot more in the tank #INDvsENG Congratulations on the win and also making the #WTC finals 👏
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) 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
England's mind voice right now 😉 #INDvsENG #bcci pic.twitter.com/ZtaF2dgsNR
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) March 6, 2021
A lengthy Test series can be likened to an arm wrestle; you have a struggle for a short while but it often ends with one team completely flattened. Well played India
— Mike atherton (@Athersmike) 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
As for England, we have some wonderful players & I felt we had a massive opportunity to do something special after that first Test. We’ve all spoken about why that hasn’t panned out, but let’s not forget we have India at home & then the Ashes. This could still be a great year!
— Ian Bell MBE (@Ian_Bell) March 6, 2021
Never in doubt #OnOn 😉 #INDvsENG https://t.co/DxWgO8i5p4
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 6, 2021
Well done on winning series & heart @Sundarwashi5 @akshar2026 & @RishabhPant17 way to go #INDvsENG_2021
— Naman Ojha (@namanojha35) March 6, 2021
It's going to be a cracker of a match between India 🇮🇳 & New Zealand 🇳🇿 in the World Test Championship Final! 💯#INDvENG #WorldTestChampionship
— DK (@DineshKarthik) March 6, 2021
Another Five-Wicket haul for Axar. 🙇♂️ Who would’ve thought that a bowler like Jadeja will not be missed in a home series!!! But then…this team is all about who’s there and not about who’s missing. 👌 👏👏 #IndvEng
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 6, 2021
Congratulations for match & series win ✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 boys well done proud of you guys love you all ❤️❤️🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 @imVkohli @ajinkyarahane88 @RishabhPant17 @ImRo45 @ashwinravi99 @akshar2026 @ImIshant @RealShubmanGill @cheteshwar1 @Wriddhipops #TeamIndia #mshami11 pic.twitter.com/rxqLksUU9J
— 𝕸𝖔𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖒𝖆𝖉 𝖘𝖍𝖆𝖒𝖎 (@MdShami11) March 6, 2021
Super comeback in the series. From 0-1 down to now 3-1 win. Well done team India. Axar and Ashwin both 5 wickets haul! Kya baat hai! Sone pe suhaga!
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) March 6, 2021