India vs England: India win Test series 3-1; key learnings
What's the story
India comprehensively won the fourth and final Test against England in Ahmedabad by an innings and 25 runs. With this, the Virat Kohli-led side clinched the four-match series 3-1. They have also qualified for the ICC World Test Championship final, becoming the second finalists besides New Zealand. The Indian spinners remained at the helm throughout the series. Here are the key learnings.
Debate
The end of the debate perhaps?
During the series, the debate on Indian rank-turners made waves. The debate took an ugly shape after the third Test (Day/Night) that got over inside two days. Several experts slammed the hosts for preparing an uneven pitch. Was it an unfit pitch? Doesn't seem so, considering the dismissals in the fourth Test. The English batsmen couldn't face the heat even on an unblemished track.
Heroics
Rishabh Pant: The talk of the town
The greatest heroes often rise from the ashes! A while ago, Rishabh Pant was on the brink of losing his national spot. However, he silenced the critics Down Under with his impactful performances. He was even more ruthless against the English bowlers. That reverse-sweep against the most successful fast bowler, James Anderson, was a testament to his though character, let alone the ton.
Defiance
Sundar deserves as much credit for his defiant 96
It seems like India have a factory of churning out young guns, who embed the fearless brand of cricket. Washington Sundar might have missed on a much-deserved hundred, his valiance drove India forward following Pant's dismissal. Any top-order batsman would be in awe of Sundar's sturdy technique against both fast and spin-bowling. Since the Australian tour, he has developed the knack of rescuing.
Axar
Find of the series, Axar Patel
India have also had a history of producing some prominent spinners. The absence of Ravindra Jadeja presented debutant Axar Patel a platform to shine. And three Tests later, the latter owns 27 wickets, including 4 five-wicket hauls and one match haul of 10 wickets. The English batsmen simply had no answers to the zip he extracted from the wicket.
Ashwin
Match-winner alert!
Just like a lot of Indian players, Ashwin has been in sublime touch following the Adelaide Test. After his all-round show at the SCG, the senior player delivered match-winning performances throughout the England series. He went on to take 32 wickets in the series, the highest by a distance. The veteran also ended his quest for 400 wickets in Test cricket.
Resilience
Eventful days of cricket for Team India
India have been on a roller-coaster ride for the past three months. Despite facing a stern test Down Under, they went on to the win the series 2-1. This time as well, India showed resilience, staging an emphatic comeback after losing the series opener. Kohli has certainly set the standards high after winning his 10th home Test series as captain, joint-highest with Ricky Ponting.