IND vs ENG: India register their biggest ever Test win, thrash England by 434 runs in Rajkot to take 2-1 lead

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IND vs ENG: India thrashed England by 434 runs at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot to take a 2-1 lead in the 5-Test series on Sunday, February 18. This is India's biggest ever win by runs in their Test cricket history.

Chasing a 557-run target on Day 4 of the third Test, England were bundled out for 122 in 39.4 overs after a five-wicket haul from Ravindra Jadeja. The local boy smashed his fourth Test hundred in the first innings.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who got retired hurt after hitting his third Test hundred on Day 3 due to a back spasm, came out to bat once again and smashed a cracking 231-ball double hundred. Debutant Sarfaraz Khan was on fire as well, scoring unbeaten 68 off 72 balls.

The two Mumbai batters forged an unbeaten 172-run partnership off just 158 balls as India declared their second innings at 430/4. Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 214 runs off 236 balls. The 22-year-old opener smashed 12 sixes and equalled Wasim Akram's 28-year-old record for most sixes in a single Test innings. He also became the only Indian to convert his first three hundreds into 150-plus scores.

It was also the first instance of a team declaring their innings against England since the start of their 'Bazball' era. Rohit Sharma declared the Indian innings with some time left for the tea break.

India put pressure straight on and Jasprit Bumrah led the way once again. He dismissed opener Zak Crawley, and then a brilliant throw from Mohammed Siraj was collected equally brilliantly by wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel, catching first innings centurion Ben Duckett well short of his crease.

Jadeja ran riot thereafter and ransacked the English middle-order. Joe Root (7), Ollie Pope (3), and Jonny Bairstow (4) all fell prey to the left-arm spinner. Kuldeep Yadav joined the party after England were reduced to 50/5, and trapped Ben Stokes (15) in front of the stumps. He returned back after an over to dismiss Rehan Ahmed to leave England now reeling at 50/7.

A 32-run partnership for the eighth wicket was broken by Ravindra Jadeja as Ben Foakes departed for 16. Ravichandran Ashwin, who rejoined the squad after missing Day 3 play to attend his unwell mother in Chennai, cleaned the stumps of Tom Hartley to make him his 501st victim.

Mark Wood swung his bat for six fours and a six to quickly add 33 runs in his kitty. He tried clearing the long off boundary on the fourth ball of the 40th over from Jadeja, but got caught by Jaiswal.