India wrapped up a comprehensive victory inside five sessions of the Third Test with England after Axar Patel and Ravi Ashwin tore through the tourists in the second innings.

Axar took figures of 6-38 to help dismiss England for 81 in their second innings, after Joe Root’s men fought back having got India all out for 145.

Root took career-best figures of 5-8 as India fell from 99-3 overnight to 145 all out, but England failed to recover after going 0-2 after three balls - and the hosts went on to reach their target of 49 without loss in the shortest completed test match since 1935.

This defeat for England means they can’t qualify for the World Test Championship final at Lord’s. Sure, the dry, dusty Ahmedabad pitch has come under sharper focus, with some balls spinning viciously and other skidding on rapidly, and the batsmen couldn’t adjust to it.

Root & Leach restrict India

The second day had started so well for England.

India began the day on 99-3 in reply to England’s first innings total of 112 all out, but lost their last seven wickets for just 31 runs.

Root inspired a brilliant comeback from the tourists after an early double strike for Jack Leach, who finished with figures of 4-54.

Leach started the collapse by trapping Ajinkha Rahane (7) lbw shortly after India edged into a first innings lead before removing the dangerous Rohit Sharma for 66 – also falling lbw as he looked to sweep.

And then it was the Root show – Washington Sundar and Axar both departed for ducks in the space of three deliveries before Ashwin (17) holed out to deep square-leg.

The England skipper then wrapped the innings when Jasprit Bumrah (1) was trapped in front.

Batting collapse

Trailing by 33, England were then bundled out inside a session in their second innings on a difficult turning track.

Axar dismissed Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow inside the first three balls of the innings, and England never recovered with the spinner returning a second five-for (5-32) to take his tally to 11 for the Test, whilst Ashwin (4-48) claimed his 400th Test wicket with the dismissal of Jofra Archer.

Root (19) and Ben Stokes (25) had offered brief hope of England building a challenging target to set India batting last, putting on 31 for the fourth wicket to see the tourists into a lead.

But the pair departed within an over of each other, both out lbw to the Indian spin twins, and the home side then swept aside the lower order – the last seven wickets costing 31 runs.

Rohit leads charge

And with such a low total, India were able to bat with freedom in their second innings, getting the 49 runs inside eight overs with Rohit (25 not out) smashing a six off Root to seal a 2-1 series lead heading into the fourth and final Test.

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