England fell to a dismal defeat against India as the visitors capitulated and the hosts recorded their biggest-ever Test victory. India won by 434 runs in Rajkot as England collapsed to 122 all out in the second innings.
India set England a huge target and then skittled the tourists to go 2-1 up in the five-match series. India had been in the box seat since grabbing a handy first-innings lead of 126 and they never took their foot off the pedal.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed an unbeaten 214, Shubman Gill made 91 and debutant Sarfaraz Khan struck his second fifty of the match before India declared their second innings on 430-4.
Chasing a record 557 for victory, England slumped to 50-7 with Ravindra Jadeja wrecking their middle order as Joe Root continued to struggle. Once Kuldeep Yadav dismissed England captain Ben Stokes lbw for 15, the match was effectively over.
Mark Wood made a quickfire 33 before being the last England batter dismissed. Follow all the latest live coverage of today’s match in the live blog below, and get the latest odds and tips here.
Dismal England thrashed by India in lowest moment of Bazball era
England were chastened as never before in the Bazball era, all out for a meek 122 to collapse to their heaviest Test defeat in terms of runs since the Second World War.
Yashasvi Jaiswal followed up his 209 in Visakhapatnam last time out with 214 not out in Rajkot as India became the first side to declare against England under the axis of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
After India amassed 430 for four to set a world-record 557 to win the third Test, England never looked like living up to their billing as happy hunters and were skittled in 39.4 overs to lose by a whopping 434 runs.
Only once before have England been hammered by a wider margin – against Australia by 562 runs in a timeless Test in 1934 – while they were spared total embarrassment by the last three wickets adding 72.
Jamie Braidwood18 February 2024 11:38
‘Bazball exposed’ as India record biggest-ever Test win over woeful England
Former captain Michael Vaughan condemned England’s performance in the third Test against India, declaring that the visitors’ aggressive approach had been “exposed” after they fell to a 434-run defeat in Rajkot.
Chasing an improbable 557 to win the third Test, Ben Stokes’ side capitulated in the fourth innings and were bowled out for only 122, falling to their largest defeat in terms of runs since 1934.
A slew of poor shots gifted the hosts victory late on day four after Yashasvi Jaiswal had notched up his second double-hundred of the series which saw the hosts declare on 430 to set England’s world-record chase.
England’s fearless “Bazball” approach under captain Stokes and head coach Brendan McCullum saw them claim a dramatic win in the first Test of the series, but has now come under fire, with defeat in Rajkot meaning they now trail 2-1 in the five-match series.
Jamie Braidwood18 February 2024 12:36
India vs England
OUT! Caught. Ravindra Jadeja to Mark Wood. Stock length ball, outside off stump down the track driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long off, caught by Jaiswal.
India vs England
Ravindra Jadeja to Mark Wood. Stock length ball, outside off stump moves in front slog sweeping, hit pad to silly point for no runs, fielded by Jurel.
India vs England
Ravindra Jadeja to Mark Wood. Stock length ball, outside off stump down the track Slog, mis-timed to deep cover for 2 runs, fielded by Gill.
India vs England
Ravindra Jadeja to Mark Wood. Stock length ball, off stump backing away cutting, mis-timed to extra cover for no runs, fielded by Patidar.
India vs England
Ravichandran Ashwin to James Anderson. Off break length ball, down leg side on the back foot Leave, Left for no runs, fielded by Jurel.
India vs England
Ravichandran Ashwin to Mark Wood. Off break length ball, outside off stump down the track Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep mid wicket for 1 run, run save by Siraj, fielded by Yadav.
India vs England
FOUR! Ravichandran Ashwin to Mark Wood. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot slog sweeping, well timed in the air under control past long off for 4 runs.
India vs England
Ravichandran Ashwin to James Anderson. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot reverse sweeping, missed for no runs, fielded by Jurel.