James Anderson made history in Dharmsala on Saturday, needing only 10 balls to achieve a milestone. He outwitted Kuldeep Yadav with a classic tactic: a short ball followed by a fuller one, inducing an edge off the tailender’s bat. With this wicket, Anderson became the first pacer to claim 700 Test wickets, ending a 49-run vigil that lasted 130 deliveries.
Shortly after, Shoaib Bashir also etched his name in history by wrapping up the innings, claiming Jasprit Bumrah’s wicket and becoming the first Englishman under 21 to secure two five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma remained in the pavilion due to a stiff back as England began their innings, aiming to erase a hefty first-innings deficit of 259 runs. With Sharma sidelined, Bumrah assumed the role of deputy captain, but India had no shortage of weapons. Ravichandran Ashwin, entrusted with the new ball, wasted no time in making an impact.
Within five deliveries, he dismantled Ben Duckett’s stumps, initiating England’s collapse. Ashwin continued his onslaught, dismissing Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley within his next five overs. Although Jonny Bairstow briefly counterattacked with three sixes, Ashwin returned to dismiss Ben Stokes, sending England into Lunch at 103/5.
After the break, Ashwin completed his five-wicket haul, joining elite company alongside Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Anil Kumble as the fourth player to achieve this in his 100th Test. His dismissal of Ben Foakes paved the way for Bumrah to showcase his reverse swing skills, quickly removing Tom Hartley and Mark Wood.
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Despite Joe Root’s resilient innings, scoring his second consecutive 50-plus score, it couldn’t alter the outcome as he eventually fell for 84 off Kuldeep Yadav’s bowling, concluding a memorable series.