Team India

Indian cricket team. Photo: Twitter/@BCCI

Virat Kohli’s side has comprehensively defeated England by an innings and 25 runs in the fourth Test in Ahmedabad to clinch the series 3-1. After dismissing Joe Root’s side on 205 on Day 1, India took a 160-run lead in the first innings. The Indian spinners then decimated the England batsmen on Saturday once again as the visitors got bundled out for 135, sending India through to the World Test Championship final.

Ashwin-Axar duo spin its web once again

The lethal spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel were at their absolute best on Day 3 of the fourth Test. While Axar took his fourth five-wicket haul, Ashwin also took 5 wickets in the second innings as the England batsmen’s horrific time in India came to an end.

While it was an utterly dismal display of batting by England, skipper Joe Root (30) was again the only player who showed some application. He kept on losing partners at the other end as Zak Crawley (5), Dom Sibley (3), Jonny Bairstow (0) and Ben Stokes (2) failed to register double-digit scores.

However, Dan Lawrence (50 off 95) played a gritty knock towards the end as he went on to score his second Test fifty. After playing a solid knock, Ashwin got the better of the youngster with a peach of a delivery as England were bundled out for 135, handing India a comprehensive win by an innings and 25 runs.

Pant & Sundar lay solid foundation for India’s victory

Responding to England’s first innings score of 205, India were once reeling at 146/6. That’s when Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar got together to notch up a 113-run partnership to take India to a commanding position on Day 3 in Ahmedabad.

India’s wicketkeeper Pant went on to play a swashbuckling 101-run knock. On the other hand, Sundar also played an outstanding innings but was left stranded on 96 not out, narrowly missing out on his maiden Test century. Axar (43) also made a vital contribution with the bat as India managed to put up a match-winning total on board. Notably, the 3-1 series win against England marked India's 13th consecutive series victory at home.

India cruise to World Test Championship final

The win in Ahmedabad also ensured that India booked their place in the much-awaited final of the inaugural edition of World Test Championship (2019-21). Virat Kohli's men finished the WTC league stages as table-toppers with a win percentage of 72.2. They will now face New Zealand, who finished 2nd with a win percentage of 70, in the final at Lord’s. The game is set to be played in June 2021.