IND vs ENG: 2nd Test – India level the series with a crushing win
India have defeated England in the second Test of the four-match series in Chennai. They have levelled the series with this win and continue their fight for the World Test Championship final.
After winning the toss, the hosts were propelled to a really good score of 329 in the first innings by Rohit Sharma’s 161 and half-centuries from Rishabh Pant and Ajinkya Rahane. England crumbled for just 134 on a deteriorating surface in response thanks to Ravi Ashwin’s sensational five-wicket haul.
The second innings for India was all about Ashwin again as he smacked a brilliant ton in front of his home crowd. He also helped the hosts recover from 106/6 as India scored 286 runs in their second innings to set a mammoth target of 482 runs for the visitors.
England didn’t have any chance of chasing down the total batting fourth and expectedly, they crumbled under pressure. This time, Axar Patel bagged a five-for as they were skittled for only 164 runs handing India a huge win by 317 runs.
Top Performers
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma’s knock on Day 1 made the difference in this Test. On a square turner, he played a magnificent knock and took calculated risks playing sweep shots to the perfection. His 161 off 231 deliveries out of India 329 in the first innings was the difference in the end. England didn’t have such an impact player and this is where India managed to pounce on them.
Ashwin’s all-round show
By the time Ravi Ashwin took a five-wicket haul in the first innings bundling England out for 134 runs, there were talks of the pitch being poor, especially from the former England cricketers. So Ashwin, the local boy, decided to show them how to bat on a spinning pitch and also proving that the surface wasn’t all that bad. He came out to bat when India was struggling at 106/6 and put up an exhibition of some brilliant strokes propelling them to 286. Ashwin was the last man to be dismissed in the innings but not before scoring his fifth Test ton. The off-spinner continued to spin the web in the second innings too and picked up three more wickets.
Records/Personal Milestone
The 317-run win is the biggest for India against England in terms of runs.
Axar Patel became the sixth Indian spinner to pick up a five-wicket haul on Test debut.
What’s Next
Both the teams will now get a breather before the third Test which is set to be played in Ahmedabad. It will be a day-night Test to be played with Pink Ball and is slated to commence on February 24.
