India (Commonwealth) _ On the fourth day of the third Test at Rajkot, England suffered a humiliating defeat to India. The 434-run margin is currently India’s largest Test win in terms of runs, surpassing their previous record of 372 runs against New Zealand in Mumbai in 2021. Chasing 557, England was bowled out for only 122 runs in 39.4 overs, losing by 434 runs.
The excellent Jaiswal’s second double century in as many Tests helped India grab a 2-1 series lead. England were destroyed by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 214 not out in what may have been their worst performance since captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum took over, before capitulating with the bat.
Set a notional 557 to win, the visitors were swept out for a humiliating 122 in a flurry of reckless strokes. England’s losing margin of 434 runs is the most since 1934, while India’s is the highest of all time. India took a 2-1 lead in the series, driven by the magnificent Jaiswal’s second. The excellent Jaiswal’s second double century among as many Tests helped India grab a 2-1 series lead.
The opener returned on 104 after retiring hurt on the third evening, and his score of 12 sixes matched the record for a single Test innings. Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan, who reached 68 not out, led India to a declaration on 430-4. Ravindra Jadeja, a left-arm spinner, blasted through England’s middle order for 5-41, adding to his century in the previous innings.
This was an incredible collapse by England, who began Saturday with a fantastic opportunity to seize control of the game, only to be crushed by Sunday evening. It appeared to be a performance from another era. England squandered vital opportunities, abused the decision review system, and saw their bowlers shredded by India’s batsmen.
England’s batting performance was particularly dismal. They gave up the initiative in their first innings, losing eight wickets for 95 runs, and then were completely dreadful in the second. England frequently discuss their love of chases, despite the fact that simply advancing to the final day would have sufficed.
What makes the setback even more painful is that India played more than a day of the match with just 10 men when off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin went home due to a family issue. Ashwin, who withdrew on Friday evening, reappeared on Sunday and got one wicket in his six overs.
It is extremely tough for any side to win a single Test in India, let alone a whole series, yet England has squandered several opportunities. The great triumph in the first Test in Hyderabad feels like a distant memory, exceeded by the wastefulness of the second and third Tests. They must somehow come together for Ranchi.
This is developing become Jaiswal’s series, confirming the 22-year-old’s status as a global sensation.
On Saturday, he had to retire due to a back ailment, but not before leading India to a 196-2 victory overnight. Returning after Shubman Gill was run out for 91, Jaiswal’s utter destruction of England’s bowling essentially allowed him to score two hundreds in the same innings without being removed.
Just as on day three, Jaiswal shifted gears in an instant, sweeping James Anderson over his shoulder in the first over after lunch. In Anderson’s following over, Jaiswal hit three consecutive sixes. Debutant Sarfaraz kept up with Jaiswal for his second half-century of the match. The sixth-wicket partnership scored 172 in 158 furious balls, annihilating England’s bowlers in the oppressive afternoon heat.
Jaiswal’s single-off Joe Root made him the third youngest man after Vinod Kambli and Don Bradman to score double hundreds in consecutive Tests. He equaled the record established by Pakistan’s Wasim Akram against Zimbabwe in 1996 by hitting the following two balls for six.
At the conclusion of the subsequent over, India declared, becoming the first side to do so against England since Stokes and McCullum took over less than two years prior. Stokes reaffirmed his view that draws are “off the table” prior to this Test. When questioned about a possible objective on the third evening, Ben Duckett responded, “the more the better”.
In actuality, England could not complete 40 of the 131 overs allotted to them in order to chase their record goal. Duckett was the first man out, having been sent back by Zak Crawley after forcing his way onto the leg side and getting off to a sprint. Duckett was far short after wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel expertly caught Mohammed Siraj’s throw.
Replays revealed that Jasprit Bumrah’s leg-bumping yell was actually only grazing the stump, which infuriated Crawley. After that, England collapsed. While Jonny Bairstow and Root were out sweeping the same bowler, Ollie Pope forced Jadeja to slip. Stokes failed to sweep once more, this time against Kuldeep Yadav, whose wrist-spinner then lured Rehan Ahmed into a long on shot.
Tom Hartley and Ben Foakes toyed with the fifth day, but Hartley dismissed Ashwin and Foakes defeated Jadeja to leave England with 91-9. After hitting 33 off of 15 balls, Mark Wood lofted the ball to long off for Jadeja’s fifth and to finish England’s awful performance. On Friday, the fourth Test kicks off in Ranchi. A victory for India there would maintain their undefeated home record, which dates back to 2012.
