PAYTM TEST SERIES - IND Vs ENG
Venue - Narendra Modi Stadium
Date:- 06.Feb.2021 (Last Day of Final Test)
Final Test - Review
Team India Won The Match By An Innings & 25 Runs & Series By 3-1. Most importantly, team india qualified for "World Test Championship - Final".
Team india registered an emphatic win over england,to clinch the series by 3-1. This has been a sheer dominance of hosts after the first test in chennai. This team has performers, characters & match winners, ready to deliver every single time. This team refuse to loose & now it's a habit for them to bounce back- first in Australia & now on home turf. This is possibly the secret of this champion side to be a "champion".
TEAM-INDIA QUALIFIES FOR "WORLD TEST CHAMPIONSHIP -FINAL"
World Test Championship - so much buzz about it, right from the beginning of this series. Lot of permutations & combinations were discussed & what all team india need to do, to qualify for being the table topper & to find their spot in finale. Team india kept all the things very simple. They took one match at a time & didn't allowed the winning spirit to die. Players kept on giving their 100%, fighting hard in the middle & followed the process.
This reminds us of a legend - "Mahendra Singh Dhoni", who always believed in keeping things simple & use to say - "Follow The Process & Results will take care of themselves". So, an inch after inch, match after match, team india cruised. Now, team india after beating england on the home soil, qualified for "World Test Championship - Finale" where they will be locking horns with Black Caps - "New Zealand" in June'2021 at Lords - The Mecca of Cricket.
DEFINING MOMENT OF SERIES
This test series was not a cakewalk for team india. It started with a shock, as visitors thrashed the hosts in the opening match of home series. In such tricky situation, to bounce back & winning the series with such dominance is no joke.As in the post match presentation, indian coach - "Ravi Shastri" said - Both the teams had their moments & it was team india who grabbed the opportunity & made most of their moments & that's how they drive this result in this series.
There were certain defining moments of the series. First one was an unbelievable innings of- Rohit Sharma(161), on a pitch where each player was struggling to survive, our hitman was thrashing the bowlers all over the park, at his will. This was the defining moment of the series & from here team india never looked back. Rohit gave some crucial starts to the team, once he got out for 66, then at 49 but these were some crucial contributions, not only in terms of runs scored but playing through a session & situations. He is a special player & he made a remarkable contribution to this series.
Hitman - The Game Changer.
INDIAN LOWER-ORDER TURNS THE TIDE
This has been a quite series for indian top order, Rohit Sharma be an exception in this. If we talk about "Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli & Ajinkya Rahane", none of them produced consistent results at the top. Two half centuries from indian skipper,one good score by Rahane(67) & one half century by Pujara. Well, that proved to be a blessing in disguise for lower middle order & how brilliantly they performed, rescued the team every single time. Be it "Rishabh Pant, Ravi Chandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar or Axar Patel".
One key fact, in most of the matches it's the lower order of team india,that rescued them & made 56% of the total runs scored. Especially, contribution of Ashwin(106) in the second test on his home ground with the bat proved to be the turning point & he being a game changer.
What to talk about another chennai boy - Washington Sundar. He literally snatched the game from the opposition, with his gritty performances with the bat - 85* & 96*. In this match also, hosts were some difficult situation at 146/6 & from there to score 96* & take team's score to 365 is commendable. This shows the talent & application of this player. He thoroughly deserves that century, but surely it will come.
Now, this is the player to watch out for - a player with flamboyance, who believed in himself, applied himself & transformed his game to make team win. Yes, that's Rishabh Pant for you. Last 18 months, super challenging for this kid. He's been criticized for keeping, lot of pressure on him but man, what transformation he came up with. It's not just runs, but the skills with the gloves behind the stumps, the attitudinal shift & playing the situations. He has developed himself as a match winner, truly commendable !! It was not easy, but worth it. Take a Bow - "It's Pantastic" !!
Last but not the least, it's "Bapu" - Axar Patel. What a revelation !! We all know, he is a handy batsman in one day format but the tricky situation with him in this test series was - he had more wickets than runs in this series. He balanced that out in the last game of the test series & made a well fought 43,before he ran himself out. It's a glimpse for the future.
SPIN TWINS TOO HOT TO HANDLE
This test series - it's been a roller coaster ride for indian spinners. In these four matches, the spin-twins - Axar Patel & Ravi Chandran Ashwin" picked 59 wickets - that's ridiculous, astounding & unbelievable. This tells the story, that the indian spinners were a complete mystery for english team & they were ruling the minds of them. The left arm debutant, Axar had 27 wickets to his name & spin maestro Ashwin, had 32 wickets in a series. Looking at these figures, it's conclusive, that the spin twins completely bamboozled the team england & were - "Too Hot To Handle".
THE POCKET DYNAMITE- RISHABH PANT
The x-factor & pocket dynamite of team india -Rishabh Pant". His attitude with the bat & skills behind the stumps are winning the hearts & matches for team india. Whether, he is behind the stumps or in front, something interesting will happen. He is a liveware, especially when keeping. His knocks in Brisbane & Ahmedabad, turned the match on it's head single-handedly. This is massive transformation. What a player !! Take a Bow- Man !!
This series is truly a memorable one & gave every indian so many reasons to cherish. This team india is on the rise, under the leadership of champion player - Virat Kohli. Looking powerful - Unstoppable - Invincible. Heading to conquer - "World Test Championship". Well Played Team !!!
Final Scores:-
ENG - 205/10 & 135/10
IND - 365/10
Written By:- Saksham
Great illustration.