India achieved their most significant Test cricket victory by a narrow margin when they dismissed England for 122 runs, aiming for 557. Young batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a double century, and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took five wickets.
India secured a decisive first-innings lead of 126 in the third Test at Rajkot and maintained that momentum throughout Sunday’s dismissal of the visitors in less than 40 overs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. India now has a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
The hosts established an enormous target for England on the fourth day of play, thanks to Jaiswal’s magnificent double century. The match was tied at 214 before India declared their second innings at 430-4, with Shubman Gill scoring 91 and debutant Sarfaraz Khan reaching fifty for the second time.
Jaiswal tied the record for twelve sixes in a Test innings with Wasim Akram; he had achieved the feat in the second Test in Visakhapatnam with 209.
Then, under the leadership of Jadeja, India’s spinners took nine wickets while four of England’s top-order batsmen failed to reach double figures.
In an earlier match, India dismissed England for 319 in the first innings on Saturday, when the tourists’ batting disintegrated from 299-5 in the absence of star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ashwin’s Milestone and India’s Triumph
Ashwin, who left the Test in the middle of the second day hours after taking his 500th Test wicket due to a family emergency, returned to the pitch on the fourth day and captured his 501st wicket. He is the ninth bowler in Test history to amass 500 wickets, and the second Indian to do so, following fellow spinner Anil Kumble (619).
The contest effectively ended when Kuldeep Yadav dismissed England captain Ben Stokes for 15 runs.
Mark Wood scored a quickfire 33 before being dispatched as the final England batsman.
England controlled the game well and put us under pressure, but our bowlers are world-class, so the message was to maintain composure,” said India captain Rohit Sharma following the match.
“It is easy to lose sight of the reason for our team’s existence, but I am incredibly proud of the way we reemerged.”
Jaiswal’s consecutive double tons garnered acclaim. Jaiswal, who bats left-handed, distinguished himself with a 236-ball innings that circumvented the opposition’s bowling attack.
The opener resumed his innings during the morning session after retiring late on day three at 104 due to back discomfort.
“When I arrived today, my intention was to advance the game and bat until the conclusion,” Jaiswal explained.
He jumped for joy after raising his second consecutive double century with a single off Root.
Jaiswal Dominates, Earns High Praise
The 22-year-old batsman, who scored a match-winning 209 in the second Test as well, leads the series with 545 runs.
Jaiswal and Sarfaraz disrupted the England attack, showering boundaries as they amassed 172 runs off 158 deliveries.
Jaiswal reached his double century with a single off Root, whereas Sarfaraz amassed an impeccable 68 with three sixes.
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His performance garnered commendation from former cricket greats, such as Mohammad Kaif and VVS Laxman of India.
Laxman stated in an X post that “no praise is too high” for Jaiswal and his team’s comeback victory over the opposition (33.3-3).
One of Jaiswal’s former Sri Lanka fast bowlers, Lasith Malinga, who coached his former team Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, remarked that Jaiswal’s “work ethic and commitment” impressed him.
“This lad is extraordinary, and this will most certainly not be his last achievement,” Malinga wrote in his X post.
