Rohit Sharma’s Move Against England In Rajkot Test Is A Massive First In ‘Bazball Era’

Yashasvi Jaiswal hit an unbeaten double century to help India to its biggest-ever win on Sunday, crushing England by 434 runs in the third Test to take a 2-1 lead in the series. The match in Rajkot saw Rohit Sharma becoming the first captain and India the first team in the ‘Bazball era’ to declare their innings against England. The Bazball era is referred to as the time that started after Brendon McCullum took over as England’s Test team coach in May 2022. Talking about the game, India were solid at the score of 430 for 4 with a lead of 556 runs when captain Rohit Sharma decided to declare the innings and ask England to bat.

Chasing 557 for victory, England’s batting fell like a pack of cards with the loss of eight wickets in the final session to be dismissed for 122 on day four in Rajkot.

Ravindra Jadeja got Mark Wood out for 33 as the final wicket — and his fifth — and he kissed the pitch as India registered their greatest win in terms of runs.

It was England’s second-biggest Test loss since their 562-run defeat to Australia in 1934.

England lost their openers, including first-innings centurion Ben Duckett run out on four, before Tea and Jadeja then rattled the middle-order with his left-arm spin.

Jadeja was named player of the match for his seven wickets in the Test and 112 with the bat in the first innings.

The 22-year-old Jaiswal, who hit a match-winning 209 in the second Test, remains the leading batsman in the series with 545 runs.

Indian bowlers set up victory after they bowled England out for 319 in the first innings, after the tourists’ batting collapsed from 299 for 5 despite the absence of star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Saturday.

Ashwin, who left the Test midway on day two due to a family emergency hours after taking his 500th Test wicket, returned to the field and got his 501st wicket on the fourth day.

Off-spinner Ashwin, 37, became only the ninth bowler in Test history and the second Indian after fellow spinner Anil Kumble (619) to reach 500 wickets.

Skipper Rohit Sharma’s 131 and his 204-run stand with the left-handed Jadeja steered India to 445 in the first innings after they elected to bat.