3rd Test: Virat Kohli calls shortest Test ever played on Indian soil 'bizarre experience'

It took only a couple of days for the third Test to be completed at Motera; India, victors by 10 wickets, have no pitch complaints, but strip will remain a talking point

It only took 842 balls to wrap up the proceedings as the newly-inaugurated Narendra Modi Stadium recorded the shortest Test match ever played on Indian soil. It was also the shortest day-night Test ever, prompting Indian skipper Virat Kohli to call it “a bizarre experience”.

The last Test match played under lights in India had ended in 982 balls, against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens in 2019.

On Thursday, India thumped England by 10 wickets on Day Two of the third Test to put the visitors out of contention for the World Test Championship final, and take a 2-1 lead in the series. India now needs to just draw the fourth Test to qualify for the WTC final.

After England managed just 112 in their first innings, yesterday India responded with 145 in their first stint. Then, in the second dig, England slumped to 81 all out–their lowest ever Test score in India–to set India a 49-run target that openers Rohit Sharma (25 not out) and Shubman Gill (15 not out) easily chased down.

Done in five sessions

However, the speed at which the Test match wrapped up in just over five sessions, made the pitch a talking point. But, Rohit insisted it had no demons in it. “The pitch didn’t do anything. A lot of batsmen got out to the straight ball. We made a lot of mistakes as a batting unit too. The pitch had no demons. It was a nice pitch to bat on. Once you are in, you can score, as you saw [in India’s second innings]. It was important to apply yourself and keep scoring,” said Rohit at the post-match press conference.

Resuming the day at 99-3, India batted for around 100 minutes and lost their next seven wickets for just 47 runs to be bundled out for 145, taking a slender lead of 33 runs.

It was a day of records, as England skipper Joe Root registered his best Test figures of 5-8 as he ensured his team did not feel the pinch of being a spinner short.

Ashwin’s record

India offie Ravichandran Ashwin claimed his 400th Test wicket when he trapped Jofra Archer leg before wicket with a fuller, straight delivery that struck the Englishman’s boot plumb in front of the stumps. The milestone was greeted with a huge roar from the crowd.  

However, left-arm spinner Axar Patel was once again the chief wrecker, claiming 5-32 in one spell of 15 overs to finish with a 10-wicket haul in the match (11-70).  The pitch totally assisted the spinners with 28 wickets going to them, and just two to pacers. Axar scalping opener Zack Crawley (0) and Jonny Bairstow, who was dismissed for a pair, off the first three deliveries in the very first over of the second innings set the tempo for the hosts.

Figure trigger

401
No. of Test wickets for India’s veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who became the second-fastest bowler (77 Tests) to reach this milestone.  Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan is the fastest (72 Tests)

5-8
England skipper Joe Root’s career-best figures that saw India bowled out for 145 in the first innings. Root’s  previous best was 4-87.

22
Virat Kohli’s record number of Test victories as captain on home soil (29 Tests). MS Dhoni had 21 from 30 Tests. 

One
The six India’s pacer spearhead Ishant Sharma hit in the first innings yesterday was his first across a career spanning 100 Tests, 80 ODIs and 14 T20Is.

81
England’s second innings total at Motera is their lowest Test score against India, their previous lowest being 101 at the Oval in 1971. and 14 T20Is.

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