Team India showcased a stellar performance with both bat and ball to crush England in the third Test. A team in transition, India has lost three Tests in a little over three years, two more than they did in the previous eight years, but in Rajkot, Rohit Sharma-led side gave an emphatic shellacking to their current challengers, the 434-run win was India’s biggest win by runs and on the other hand, England’s second-worst defeat. With a dominating win, India has taken a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

In front of a big crowd, the Indian batting demolished the visiting bowlers, setting an unattainable target, before the home bowlers transformed the same pitch into a minefield. Yashasvi Jaiswal who had retired hurt on 105, came back to end up with a second-consecutive double-hundred, in the course of which he equaled the record for the most sixes in a Test innings held by Wasim Akram and carried India to the record for most sixes in a Test. The left-handed opener also became the third-youngest batter to hit Test double-centuries. Jaiswal’s phenomenal knock of unbeaten 214 included 12 sixes and 14 fours.

Test debutant Sarfaraz Khan produced a brilliant performance to hit his second half-century in the test. Jaiswal and Sarfaraz got into an exhibition and a competition of power-hitting and gap-finding. However, Jaiswal was the clear winner as Sarfaraz managed only 68 in a 172-run stand. Jaiswal’s assault included a hat-trick of sixes off James Anderson, setting England a target of 557.

In reply, Zack Crawley and Ben Duckett looked to give England a solid start but Duckett walked off after a mix-up in the middle, debutant Dhruv Jurel collected a throw on the half-volley and broke the wicket. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep were all over England. Ollie Pope was the first one to fall to spin. Then it was local boy Jadeja’s show on the field as the all-rounder ran through the England batting lineup and handed them a worst defeat.