India finished the pink-ball Test in just two days against mighty England. The Indians are now the favourites to become the second finalists in the World Test Championship finals. Indian batsmen Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill chased a total of 49 runs in 7.4 overs. India won the match by 10 wickets and got a 2-1 lead in the four-match Test series. Skipper Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat first. The English batsmen were expecting a similar pitch to that of the first Test. However, the new stadium carried a twist waiting for the visitors in the corner. The pitch clearly favored the spinners as local boy Axar Patel shone with a fifer and a four-wicket haul in the first and the second innings respectively. Here we go IND vs ENG 3rd test major reasons why India won the match
Let’s have a look at 3 major reasons why India won the IND vs ENG 3rd test match.
Axar Patel’s unplayable bowling
Axar Patel’s arm ball was seemingly unplayable for the visitors. In the first innings, he took four wickets with his arm balls. Axar Patel bags the Man of the Match award for his outstanding performance. He vagged a total of 11 wickets and became the first bowler to do so in a day/night Test.
Rohit Sharma’s brave knock
India’s brilliant bowling performance created all the headlines but Rohit Sharma’s batting performance is something that deserves more credits. In a pitch where batsmen were seen struggling to move their feet, the boy from Mumbai was swinging his bat with grace. India would have certainly failed to take a lead If not for Rohit Sharma’s crucial knock of 66 in the first innings. He cemented the game for India with his unbeaten knock of 25 runs in the second innings.
England’s mistake to play only 1 spinner
England seemingly read the pitch wrong as ended up playing just one spinner in the name of Jack Leach in their playing XI. It was an out and out spinner’s pitch as the pacers had nothing for them with the pink-ball. Virat Kohli played a total of three spinners in his playing XI which did the trick for him. Joe Root realized the value of spinners on the track and ended up bowling plenty of overs on Day 2. However, it was too late till then as the Indians became unplayable in the IND vs ENG 3rd test second innings.
