In the third Test of the five-match series, India defeated England by 434 runs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first. On a completely batting-friendly wicket, the home team got into trouble at 33/3, but a valiant partnership between skipper Sharma (131) and Ravindra Jadeja (112) helped India overcome that. Both batters added 204 runs for the fourth wicket partnership, in which the hitman smashed 14 fours and three sixes, while Jadeja hit nine fours and two sixes. Moreover, debutants Sarfaraz Khan (62) and Dhruv Jurel (46) showcased their talent with the willow and contributed valuable runs. Ravichandran Ashwin (37) and Jasprit Bumrah (26) also were determined till the end and assisted India to reach an enormous score of 445/10.
Mark Wood was the star performer for England with the ball in hand as he grabbed a four-wicket haul. Joe Root, Tom Hartley and James Anderson got one wicket each while Rehan Ahmed clinched two wickets.
In reply, the Englishmen also got off to a good start as Ben Duckett (153) smashed a scintillating hundred, which included 23 fours and two sixes. Day 2 was quite in favour of the visitors but on Day 3, the side collapsed miserably. From 223/3, the side ended up with just 319 runs on the board. No other batter even managed to score fifty.
With the bowl in hand, the Indian side looked solid as Mohammed Siraj bagged a four-wicket haul. Kuldeep Yadav and Jadeja also got two wickets each while Bumrah and Ashwin scalped one wicket each.
With a comfortable lead of 126, India only needed to rack up some decent runs and utterly eliminate the Englishmen from the game. With the pitch still holding up for batters, the team enjoyed scoring 430/4d runs before declaring. Yashasvi Jaiswal (214*) was the star of the show as he scored a consecutive double-century. With 12 sixes, he also equalled Wasim Akram’s most sixes in a match record. Shubman Gill (91) batted impressively until being run out. Sarfaraz (68) drove the proceedings forward, scoring a brilliant half-century to put India in a better position.
England only managed to get three wickets in the second innings while bowling. Root, Hartley and Ahmed were the ones to secure one wicket each.
The visitors, while chasing, once again collapsed in the final innings as they were bundled for just 122 runs. Wood (33), playing at number 10, was the most runs-getter.
While defending in the last inning, Jadeja obtained a fifer, while Kuldeep got two wickets to his name. One wicket each was also taken by Ashwin and Bumrah.
Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged Player of the Match for his electrifying century and a fifer in the last inning. With this win, India are now 2-1 up in the series.
Scorecard:
1st Innings
India: 445/10, Overs 130.5, Rohit Sharma 131, Mark Wood 4/114
England: 319/10, Overs 71,1, Ben Duckett 153, Mohammed Siraj 4/84
2nd Innings
India: 430/4d, Overs 98, Yashasvi Jaiswal 214*, Tom Hartley 1/78
England: 122/10, Overs 39.4, Mark Wood 33, Ravindra Jadeja 5/41