Ravindra Jadeja in 7th heaven, India thrash England for 4-0 series win

Ravindra Jadeja led India’s sensational spin charge by capturing a career-best 7 for 48 to consign England to an innings and 75-run defeat in the fifth Test on Tuesday, handing the hosts only their second 4-0 series victory ever. (HIGHLIGHTS)

Virat Kohli’s men emulated the MS Dhoni-led side of 2013, which routed Australia 4-0 at home, after left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja turned a match that seemed to be headed for a draw on its head with the hosts capturing all 10 wickets in the last two sessions on Day 5. (SCORECARD)

England were routed for 207 in 88 overs in the final session, after Ravindra Jadeja’s four wickets saw six wickets tumble in the final session. The visitors lost all 10 wickets in the last two sessions, after crumbling in one session in the Dhaka Test against Bangladesh in October. (SEE INDIA’S WINNING MOMENTS)

England were routed for 207 in 88 overs in the evening, after Jadeja’s four wickets after tea saw six wickets tumble in the final session. It was almost a repeat for England, who had lost all 10 wickets in one session in the Dhaka Test against Bangladesh in October before arriving in India.

Jadeja removed last man Jake Ball to set off celebrations among the players with a crowded stadium cheering. Jadeja’s previous best was 6/138. Jadeja took his first 10-wicket match haul with 10/154.

KEY WICKETS

Ravindra Jadeja, 28, grabbed three wickets as England, 95 for none at lunch but demoralised and trailing the series 0-3, were reduced to 167 for 4 at tea.

Although the MA Chidamabaram Stadium pitch played well, Jadeja preyed on the nervous England batsmen with subtle changes to his stock fast and full deliveries as he struck twice in successive overs, eighth and 10th after tea, claiming his sixth five-wicket innings haul.

England were hopeful at tea, but Jadeja induced the well-set Moeen Ali, who hit 146 in the first-innings, to hole out to Ravichandran Ashwin at deep mid-on for 44 and then caught Ben Stokes (23) on the backfoot, forcing the all-rounder to lob a catch to Karun Nair at midwicket.

Leg spinner Amit Mishra bowled debutant Liam Dawson the next over with a googly to expose the tail.

It was a remarkable show on a pitch that showed little deterioration even on the last two sessions.

SIR JADEJA’S BUNNY

Beleagured England skipper Alastair Cook (49), with his captaincy hanging by a thread,, led the fight through the morning session as he raised a 103-run opening partnership with Keaton Jennings (54).

But Jadeja, who has made Cook his bunny, removed him for the sixth time in the series, a lazy glance caught at leg slip by KL Rahul. Cook, dropped on four by keeper Parthiv Patel off Ashwin in the morning, could have played his last innings as England Test skipper.

Moeen Ali, the first-innings centurion, and Ben Stokes seemed to be holding out well, but with both prised out, India quickly ran through the lower order.

Skipper Virat Kohli’s ploy of using pace and spin had a telling effect. Ishant Sharma held one end up and accounted for the fourth wicket in the afternoon when Jonny Bairstow (1) threw it away. The England No 5 lofted over midwicket, but Jadeja sprinted backwards for over 20 metres and completed a superbly judged catch.

England had been left demoralised after starting the series well in Rajkot, but yet again paid the price for their batsmen squandering the game when they looked certain of escaping with a draw.

The visitors had been flattened by Karun Nair, who became only the second Indian batsman to score a triple century on Day 4.

Nair’s sensational, unbeaten 303 had powered India to an all-time record 759/7 declared on Day 4, in reply to England’s 477 all out.