IND vs ENG: Dominant India shuts 'Bazball' with 4-1 series win over England as Rohit and Gill's century topped with Ashwin's 5-fer secure innings win in Dharamsala

Indian cricketers celebrate after picking a wicket.
Indian cricketers celebrate after picking a wicket.

Highlights:

India defeated England by 4-1 in the five-match series,

India won the Dharamsala Test by an innings of 64 runs.

On the back of a complete team performance, India defeated England by a margin of an innings and 64 runs to secure a 4-1 win in the five-match series. While it was the Kuldeep Yadav show on Day 1, the next morning was dominated by Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and young Indian batters who piled on misery on the visitors. Playing his 100th Test, Ravichandran Ashwin bagged a five-wicket haul in the second innings as India tamed rampaging 'Bazball'.

Another batting collapse of England

After India secured a 259-run lead before England managed to bundle out the hosts, the Three Lions' batting line-up once again displayed zero resistance against a formidable Indian spin attack. Ashwin, who shared the new ball with Bumrah, led the charge and ran through England's top order and completed his 36th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, which is the most by an Indian bowler.

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Joe Root showed some fight for the visitors and recorded a half-century while Jonny Bairstow's (39 runs off 31 balls) counter-attacking knock was entertaining until it was cut short by Kuldeep. Root was dismissed by Kuldeep after the England batter scored 84 runs.

Apart from Ashwin's five wickets (nine in the match), Bumrah and Kuldeep bagged two wickets each while Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with a wicket.

The seeds of victory were sowed early

After England surrendered for just 218 runs in their first innings, India seized the opening and slammed the door on any hopes of an English comeback in Dharamsala. While Kuldeep Yadav's five-wicket haul and Yashasvi Jasiwal's aggression with the bat bamboozled the Three Lions on Day 1 of the Test, Day 2 witnessed a batting masterclass from Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill.

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Rohit (103) and Gill (110) batted marvelously in the opening session of Day 2 and poured misery on the English bowlers. Ben Stokes and James Anderson removed the two set Indian batters in quick succession after lunch but debutant Devdutt Padikkal and right-handed batter Sarfaraz Khan took control of the situation.

Devdutt, Sarfaraz hit half-centuries

Devdutt Padikkal, filling in for Rajat Patidar in India's lineup, joined forces with Sarfaraz Khan to construct a vital 97-run stand. This partnership came after the quick losses of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, with Khan contributing a dynamic 56 runs, marking his third half-century of the series, to help India bounce back.

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Sarfaraz, who had been on a scoring spree up to the tea break, was the first to be dismissed in the final session, caught by Shoaib Bashir immediately after tea for a commendable score of 56 off 60 deliveries. Padikkal wasn't far behind, being bowled by a brilliant delivery from Bashir for 65 off 103 balls, falling short of what could have been a memorable century. Unfortunately, both Khan and Padikkal were unable to reach the century mark despite their impressive efforts.

A spirited effort from Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah took India's total to 477, securing a lead of 259 runs.Ā 

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