On the fourth day of the third Test in Rajkot on Sunday, ruthless India demolished wasteful England by a record 434 runs, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s sensational double hundred and the stunning craftiness of five-wicket man Ravindra Jadeja. England resisted the temptation to play ‘Bazball’, but the Indian bowlers, led by Jadeja (5/41) were an irresistible force, chasing an improbable 557-run target and edging out the tourists for 122 in their second innings. India now leads the five-match series, 2-1.
This is the first time India has won by more than 400 runs in Tests. This is their largest win in terms of runs in 577 Tests.
This was also India’s largest win in Test cricket in terms of runs, surpassing its previous 372-run victory over New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in 2021.
Jaiswal’s unbeaten 214 off 236 balls, in which he equalled the most sixes (12) in a Test innings, was the foundation of India’s second innings total of 430 for four declared, which gave them a massive 556-run lead earlier in the day.
It was also a perfect platform for Jadeja to weave his magic. England’s claims of fancying themselves in big chases through an aggressive approach resulted in nothing.
India’s plan to attack the wickets took the wind out of England’s sails, as their top order crumbled without making a significant contribution.
With Jadeja receiving ample support from Kuldeep Yadav (2/19), Jasprit Bumrah (1/18), and Ravichandran Ashwin (1/19), who returned to the match on this day after attending a medical emergency at home, England had no way out.
Ben Duckett (4) ran himself out, Zak Crawley (11) was caught leg-before by Bumrah, and Jadeja struck twice in quick succession to finish off Ollie Pope (3) and prolong Jonny Bairstow’s (4) misery on this tour.
Bairstow, who was desperate for runs on this tour, was caught off guard while attempting to sweep Jadeja.
Pope, England’s hero from the first Test victory, cut one straight to Rohit Sharma at first slip as Jadeja shook their top-order.
After a brief period of resistance, Joe Root (7) missed a sweep off Jadeja, with the umpire ruling him out leg-before, and replays confirmed that the ball would have flicked the top of the off-stumps.
Captain Ben Stokes (15) suffered a similar fate, missing a sweep off Kuldeep Yadav as England fell to 50-6.
Ashwin took to the field after tea and contributed by taking Tom Hartley’s wicket.
For a while, it appeared England would fold for one of their lowest-ever totals against India, but a late burst by Mark Wood (33, 15 balls, 6x4s, 1x6s) took them to 122 from 82 for eight.
But, before Jadeja and his apocalyptic horsemen swept through England, Jaiswal and debutant Sarfaraz Khan demonstrated their brilliance in no small measure.
Shubman Gill also demonstrated his class with a 91 after India resumed the fourth day at 196 for two.
The knock, combined with his century in the previous Test, could have given him a lot of time and confidence. But none shone brighter than Jaiswal.
Jaiswal, who had already scored his third century and second of the series, continued his red-hot form to become the first player to hit 20 sixes in a series with two matches remaining.
Jaiswal’s six-hitting spree has resulted in India breaking their previous record of 48 sixes in a series.
The left-handed opener also joined Pakistan legend Wasim Akram in the record books for the most sixes (12) by a batter in a Test innings, resetting India’s previous record.
Jaiswal joined Vinod Kambli and Virat Kohli as only the third Indian to score two consecutive double centuries in the same game, while also becoming the seventh Indian to score more than 200 in a Test’s second innings.
In the process, the 22-year-old Jaiswal broke the 500-run mark in only the third Test of the series, scoring 545 runs in six innings at an average of 109, including two tons and a fifty.
In fact, Jaiswal is now the current cycle’s leading run-scorer.
In fact, Jaiswal is now the leading run-scorer in the current cycle of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), surpassing Australia’s Usman Khawaja with 861 runs in seven Tests at 71.75, including three centuries and two fifties.
However, Sarfaraz also shone brightly in his debut Test, scoring two fifties.
His unbeaten 68 was laced with class and that customary disdain for spinners, which England will be concerned about as the fourth Test begins in Ranchi on Friday.