India clinched a commanding victory by an innings and 64 runs against England in the decisive fifth Test at Dharamsala, securing the series with a 4-1 victory. Ravichandran Ashwin shone brightly on the third and last day of the match, celebrating his 100th Test by securing his 36th five-wicket haul, a record-setting performance that was pivotal in dismissing England for 195.
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Despite a somewhat slow beginning, with only nine wickets in the first two Tests and an unexpected departure during the third Test in Rajkot due to a family medical emergency, Ashwin emerged as the series' leading wicket-taker. Demonstrating remarkable dedication to the team and the sport, Ashwin made a swift return just one day after leaving and participated in the remainder of the match, claiming a wicket in the second innings.
Ashwin continued to impress, achieving five-wicket hauls in both the fourth and fifth Tests. Rahul Dravid, India's head coach, praised Ashwin's unwavering commitment to the team throughout the series. In a post-match interview, when asked to identify a defining moment of the series, Dravid highlighted Ashwin's comeback in the third Test as a particularly significant and emotional highlight, amidst various match-winning performances.
Rahul Dravid lauds R Ashwin
“Some great performances all through, hard to pick one standout moment. I'll just say Ashwin coming back to the team after what he went through… yeah, the performances were there, we expected us to do well, but Ash coming back after what he went through, for the team, and wanting to come back and contribute to the team, it really signifies what this team is about, and what the character of this team is. That was the standout moment in this series. It really gladdens your heart as a coach,” Dravid told the broadcasters.
In the Rajkot Test, Ashwin achieved the remarkable milestone of his 500th wicket. However, shortly after this achievement, the off-spinner was compelled to leave the Test to be with his mother in Chennai. He made the journey back home but quickly returned the following day, managing to claim a wicket in the second innings, contributing to India's historic 434-run victory against England.
Rohit's Team India continue to rule WTC points table
This win not only cemented India's leading position in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings but also severely impacted England's aspirations for a spot in the WTC finals. Prior to the Dharamshala clash with England, India had a winning percentage of 64 across eight games, including five wins. With this victory, their winning percentage has increased to 68.51. Meanwhile, New Zealand holds the second position with a 60 per cent win rate, and Australia is in third with a 59.09 per cent win rate after securing seven victories in 11 matches. Bangladesh and Pakistan are next, with win percentages of 50 and 36.66, respectively. England finds itself in the eighth position out of nine teams, having secured only three victories and six defeats in 10 matches, leading to a win percentage of just 17.50.
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