Ahmedabad: Left-arm spinner Axar Patel (5/32) created an illusion of turn with 11 straight deliveries that put India on the brink of the World Test Championship (WTC) final with a 10-wicket demolition of England inside two days in the day-night third Test here Thursday. In only his second Test, Axar Patel with a match-haul of 11/70, relentlessly hit the good length area and hoodwinked England batsmen. They played him for turn only to find that there was none on offer from him.
The result was England’s lowest total against India – 81 all out in 30.4 overs. It left the hosts with a target of 49 which they achieved with minimum fuss taking a 2-1 lead in the four-match series. The visitors were also knocked out of contention from the WTC final.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (4/48) proved to be an ideal foil for Axar. In the process Ashwin became the fourth Indian bowler and second fastest in the world to complete a commendable milestone of 400 Test wickets. He achieved the feat with the dismissal of Jofra Archer.
Incidentally, after Afghanistan’s debut Test in 2018 in Bangalore, this was the second time that India won a Test match, inside two days. This was after England skipper Joe Root’s fabulous career-best spell (5/8) resulted in India’s dramatic collapse from 114 for three to 145 all out.
“The result went our way but I don’t think the quality of batting was good from either of the two teams. It was a very good batting wicket. Below-par batting by both teams, but our bowlers were more effective,” said Kohli in the post-match presentation. “(Jasprit) Bumrah said I am getting work load management while playing,” Kohli quipped when asked about the finish inside two days.
India lost seven wickets for only 31 runs after looking solid at 114 for three at one stage. However, England lost all 10 in an entire session in which no pacer was seen in action.
“We were 70 for 2. But we didn’t really capitalise on it. Something around 250 on that wicket would have made it different. We will come back using this hurt. We will come back as a better team,” a disappointed but resolute Root said.
In the morning once Rohit was gone, it was time for Root to enter the scene. He quickly got rid of Rishabh Pant (1), Washington Sundar (0) and Axar (0). At one point, Root’s figures were 3-3-0-3 as he exploited the friendly conditions, repeatedly hitting the rough which helped him dismiss three left-handers in succession.
Ashwin (17) and Ishant Sharma (10 not out), who hit his first ever six in his 100th Test appearance, scored a few which proved to be priceless in the end.
India need to win the fourth and final Test at the same venue from March 4 to seal the WTC final spot.
Brief scores: England 112 and 81 (Ben Stokes 25, Axar Patel 5/32, Ravichandran Ashwin 4/48) lost to India 145 (Rohit Sharma 66, Joe Root 5/8) and 49 without loss (Rohit Sharma 25 n o) by 10 wickets