ICC Test Championship 
Brief Scorecard 
India VS England Paytm Test Series 
4th Test Played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad from 4-8 February 2021
England 1st Innings 205 All Out (Ben Stokes 55, Dan Lawrence 46, Ollie Pope 29, Jonny Bairstow 28, Axar Patel 4/64, Ravichandra Ashwin 3/ 47, Mohammad Siraj 2/45)
India 1St Innings 365 All Out in 114.4 Overs (Rishabh Pant 101, Washington Sundar 96*, Rohit Sharma 49, Axar Patel 43, Ajinka Rahane 27, Ben Stokes 4/89, Anderson 3/44, Jack Leach 2/89) 
England 2nd Innings 135 All Out in 54.5 Overs (Dan Lawrence 50, Joe Root 30, Ravichandra Ashwin 5/47, Axar Patel 5/48) 

India Won By an Innings and 25 Runs. 
India Won The Series 3-1 
Player Of The Match: Rishabh Pant 
Player Of The Series: Ravichandra Ashwin

Team India completing the comprehensive routing of England won yet another test by an Innings and 25within 3days. That led to India winning the series 3-1 and earning the right for meeting New Zealand in the final of ICC Test Championship in June 2021 at Lords. 

The four matches test series started in a situation where the either team had some opportunities through different permutation and combinations to qualify for the ICC test championship final. A drawn series could even have taken Australia to the final ahead of the two teams. Australia lost a big opportunity for the postponement of South Africa tour. England after a very successful Srilanka tour came to India. The equation changed after England won big in the first test . India got desperate.  India repeated what they recently did against Australia. After losing big the first test they bounced back winning the second test making it 1-1. The third test was a day night pink ball test at Iconic Narendra Modi Stadium. That historic math ended in less than two days with India winning by an Innings. Lot was discussed about the wicket. But the batsmen of both sides showed novice ness of playing pink ball on turning track. India off course bowled better. Chances of England got evaporated after India taking 2-1 lead. England could only try winning for opening the door for Australia. India by this time grew in confidence. Pink ball and red ball did not matter England batted poorly. India won convincingly yet again.

England had the advantage of batting first. But again showing lack of skill and temperament against moving ball managed scoring 205. Surprising every one Anderson and Stokes bowling probing overs caused early headache for India. At one stage India was reduced to 6/146. Rishabh Pant playing a brilliant Innings of 101 and producing a great partnership 113 Washington Sundar in the 7th Wicket put India in to commanding position. Sundar and Patel produced yet another partnership of 106 for the 8th wicket when Patel got run out for 43. Stokes knocked out Ishant and Siraj in no time leaving Sundar stranded at 96 not out. India scoring 365 took match-defining 160 runs lead. On a wicket where Indian spinners took the hell out of English batsmen Anderson (3/44) and Stokes (4/89) showed why Indian batsmen have limitation against quality pace. 

The fate of the match was written all over as soon as India took 160 runs lead. English batsmen showed poor skill and temperament. Axar Patel (5/48) and Ravichandra Ashwin (5/47) exploited the turn, bounce and weakness of English batsmen wrapped up English second Innings for 135. Only Lawrence 50 and root 30 could provide some resistance. England lost another match by an innings. Losing the series 3-1 England would become mere spectator at Lords when India and New Zealand would fight out for the top honor. 

Off course the wickets favored spin as these favor pace and swing in Australia, New Zealand and England. But English batsmen looked panicked and lack of skill. It will be interesting to see what English media write about the series. 

ICC would have happy for India reaching the final. Wherever in the world Indian team plays they attract huge attention. 

Rishabh Pant for his exceptional innings was adjudged player of the match. Ashwin for his match winning bowling in the last three tests was named man of the series. 

BDST: 1934 HRS, MAR 06, 2021
SMS