5th Test
Day-3 Afternoon Session Highlights:
R. Ashwin was the star for Indian team that has defeated England team with 1 inning and 64 runs.
England scored 218/10 (1st Innings) and 195/10 (2nd Innings), where as India scored 477/10 (1st Innings)
So, finally India won the match by an innings and 64 runs.
R Ashwin’s impressive performance, marking his 36th five-wicket haul (5-77) in Tests, spearheaded India’s clinical bowling exhibition on the third day of the fifth Test against England in Dharamsala.
This stellar display propelled the hosts to a commanding victory by an innings and 64 runs.
The off-spinner’s achievement is historic, as he becomes only the fourth bowler in history to secure a fifer in his 100th Test, simultaneously tying with Muttiah Muralitharan for the most wickets in such landmark Tests – 9.
While Joe Root (84) exhibited resilience as the sole standout in England’s second innings, his efforts were in vain as he lacked support from his teammates at the other end.
Tom Hartley aimed to provide support to Root, but his intentions were thwarted as he fell victim to a Jasprit Bumrah delivery, trapped LBW.
Shortly after, Bumrah repeated his feat, dismissing Mark Wood in a similar fashion.
Despite the setback, Shoaib Bashir stood firm alongside Root, prolonging the partnership and extending the game deep into the session.
Nevertheless, a brilliant delivery from Ravindra Jadeja ended Bashir’s resistance, leaving Root with no alternative but to accelerate his scoring.
Unfortunately, Root’s aggressive approach led to his downfall as he was caught at long-on, sealing India’s resounding victory.
England’s batting woes persisted, mirroring their struggles from the first innings.
Following James Anderson’s achievement of claiming his 700th wicket in the morning session, which hastened the conclusion of India’s innings, the pressure shifted to England to put up a resilient fight to conclude the tour on a positive note.
Regrettably for the visitors, their hopes were dashed.
R Ashwin utilized his craftiness to dismantle England’s top-order, leaving their batsmen uncertain in their shot selection.
Jonny Bairstow (39 off 31) hinted at providing some excitement, but his innings was abruptly terminated by Kuldeep Yadav, reminiscent of the first innings.
The dismissal of Stokes to Ashwin just before lunch epitomized England’s fortunes throughout the series.
If Ashwin clinched the victory on day three, the groundwork for India’s triumph was laid by Kuldeep’s exceptional performance (5-72) on day one.
Despite England’s bold decision to bat in seamer-friendly conditions, it quickly became evident that it was the correct choice.
As the day progressed, the pitch settled down, providing batsmen with opportunities to express themselves.
Nevertheless, there remained a hint of assistance for spinners who could maintain accuracy, a trait that Kuldeep possessed in abundance.
His varied arsenal of deliveries proved too much for England to handle, and throughout the series, the 29-year-old consistently troubled the visitors with his skills, a trend that continued in Dharamsala.
Zak Crawley’s impressive innings of 79 underscored the potential for scoring runs, but his subsequent dismissal highlighted Kuldeep’s effectiveness in the first innings.
England’s collapse of six wickets in just 37 balls on a favorable batting track was inexcusable.
Ashwin capitalized on the situation, claiming a four-wicket haul in the first innings, and he carried that momentum into the second innings, delivering a performance close to his best in the series.
In contrast to their counterparts, India’s batsmen capitalized on the favorable conditions, amassing runs with ease.
Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed with a fifty, surpassing 700 runs in the series, yet he couldn’t capitalize further.
Nevertheless, the impetus provided by Jaiswal set the stage for Rohit Sharma (103) and Shubman Gill (110) to compile their second centuries of the series.
Their formidable 171-run partnership left England reeling as boundaries flowed freely and the run rate surged.
Both batsmen mercilessly dispatched the spinners to all parts of the ground, rendering Stokes’ unconventional field placements ineffective.
Rohit capitalized on anything short or wide, showcasing his mastery on both sides of the wicket, while Gill’s graceful footwork against spin was a spectacle to behold.
Despite England managing to dismiss the well-set batsmen in succession, courtesy of Stokes’ remarkable delivery – his first of the series – removing the Indian captain, and Anderson accounting for Gill, India remained relentless in their pursuit of dominance.
The visitors then faced the challenge of containing Devdutt Padikkal (65) and Sarfaraz Khan (56), both of whom adopted a counterattacking approach precisely when England aimed to capitalize on the ball’s reverse swing.
Despite encountering moments of luck, the duo showcased remarkable courage throughout difficult spells.
Even Kuldeep (30) contributed to a crucial 49-run partnership with Bumrah (20), as India’s batsmen effectively neutralized England’s lackluster bowling attack.
Bashir (5-173) managed to secure a five-wicket haul, demonstrating occasional flashes of brilliance, yet his relative inexperience was evident at times.
England’s memorable highlights in the match included Anderson’s milestone achievement and Stokes’ exceptional delivery to dismiss Sharma.
However, throughout the series, England’s bowling unit struggled to make an impact, and their batting approach appeared disjointed.
On the dynamic surface of Dharamsala, India proved to be a formidable force that England simply couldn’t contain.
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