In contrast to the preceding three days, the overnight batsmen began steadily, with Kuldeep Yadav and Shubman Gill cautiously navigating the morning session against the English bowlers, building a solid 55-run partnership for the third wicket.
However, a misunderstanding led to Gill’s runout, followed swiftly by Kuldeep’s dismissal, leaving Safaraz Khan and Yashasvi Jaiswal to defy further breakthroughs until the brink of Lunch.
With the scoreboard showing 314/4, the Mumbai duo unleashed a spectacular onslaught, adding a remarkable 172 runs together, dominating the English bowling attack from all angles. Jaiswal showcased his prowess with a second double century, highlighted by three consecutive sixes off James Anderson, while Sarfaraz secured consecutive fifties, steering India to declare their third innings at 430/4.
The English struggled to match the intensity of the Indian batting, evidenced by their faltering top order, as Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley departed just before Tea, leaving England at a precarious 18/2.
The situation worsened in the third session as the English middle order crumbled against the Indian spinners, losing two wickets within the first seventeen balls after Tea. Despite efforts from Ben Stokes and Joe Root to steady the innings, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav claimed crucial leg-before-wicket dismissals.
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With the score languishing at 50/7 and an hour of play remaining, Tom Hartley and Ben Foakes managed to add 32 runs before Foakes fell victim to Jadeja’s guile, securing his fourth wicket. Ashwin then dismissed Hartley, and despite a spirited cameo from Mark Wood, India clinched a comprehensive victory over England by 434 runs.
