On this day in 2016: India outplay England to register a clinical victory in Mumbai

India recorded a historic win over England in the Anthony de Mello trophy after they defeated them by an innings and 36 runs at Mumbai in the 4th Test of the five-Test series in the 2016-17 season. Coming into the fourth Test at the Wankhede Stadium, the Indian team led by Virat Kohli, had already registered an unassailable lead of 3-0.

England off to a great start

In the penultimate Test of the series, England won the toss and elected to bat first. Only 24 years old, playing his first game at any level in India, Keaton Jennings’ spectacular knock of 112 was the highlight for England in the first innings. Contributions came from Alastair Cook (46), Moeen Ali (50), and later in the innings, by Jos Buttler (76), which led the tourists’ lead to an exact 400. As expected, the Mumbai track was a spinners’ delight, which witnessed Ashwin and Jadeja taking all 10 wickets, with the former getting a 6-wicket haul.

Happy birthday to England’s @JetJennings, whose 112 in Mumbai in 2016 was the highest score by an opener playing their Test debut against India! pic.twitter.com/taEfzQcuNl

— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2018

Kohli special

Trailing by 400, Indians responded well as Murali Vijay slammed a solid century (136 from 282), although the biggest show was put by the Indian skipper Virat Kohli, as he recorded 235 runs in 340 balls, including 25 fours and a six. Before getting to his double ton, Kohli ensured to keep the English bowlers in the field for the whole of the third day, by when India had taken a lead of 51 runs.

Adding to his score the next day, Kohli went on to register his third double century in the year, whereas Jayant Yadav, the off-spinner, scored his maiden century as India took a commanding first innings lead of 231 runs. After wreaking havoc in the first innings, the Indian spinners were licking their lips looking at the deteriorated, dusty, and broken Wankhede-track.

Spin explosion

India’s massive lead had always put them in a situation from where their loss was a near-impossible outcome. In the second-innings, a rather forgettable story unfolded for the tourists as two of their top-four batsmen, which included the centurion Keaton Jennings, and Moeen Ali fell for ducks. Barring Joe Root (77) and Jonny Bairstow (51), no other batsmen were able to show a fight as England found themselves lost against the Indian spinners.

Bagging another marvellous 6-wicket haul to take his match tally to 12, Ashwin made the best use of the conditions once again. Losing wickets at regular intervals, England, who were already in a spot of bother, completely surrendered and were dismissed for 195 as Indians clinched the match by an innings and 36 runs.