Yashasvi Jaiswal's unbeaten double century and five wickets by Ravindra Jadeja helped India defeat England by a record 434 runs in the third Test on Sunday, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. With this margin, this is now India's biggest Test victory ever
In pursuit of 557 for victory, England's batting collapsed, losing eight wickets in the final session and getting dismissed for 122 on day four in Rajkot. Jadeja dismissed Mark Wood for 33 as the final wicket, and he kissed the pitch as India registered their largest-ever win in terms of runs.
England lost their openers, including first-innings centurion Ben Duckett, run out for four before tea, and Jadeja disrupted the middle-order with his left-arm spin. Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root continued their poor form in the five-match series, getting out for four and seven, respectively.
Skipper Ben Stokes attempted to resist the Indian bowling force but fell lbw to left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav for 15 in his landmark 100th Test.
Left-handed Jaiswal stood out with his 214 off 236 balls, flaying the opposition attack as India declared their second innings on 430-4. The opener returned to bat in the morning session after retiring hurt on 104 late on day three due to back pain. He secured his second double ton in consecutive matches with a single off Root and celebrated with joy.
Jaiswal hit a record-equalling 12 sixes in his innings, including three straight hits over the fence off James Anderson – a first for the veteran quick with 696 wickets in 185 Tests. Jaiswal now stands level with former Pakistan great Wasim Akram, who also hit 12 sixes in an innings against Zimbabwe in 1996.
Jaiswal formed marathon partnerships, including an unbeaten 172-run stand with debutant Sarfaraz Khan, who made 68 for his second half-century in the match. 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 bowling out England for 319, despite the absence of Ravichandran Ashwin on Saturday. Ashwin, who left the Test midway on day two due to a medical emergency hours after his 500th Test wicket, returned to the field on the fourth day and claimed his 501st wicket.
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 112 by Jadeja steered India to 445 in the first innings after they elected to bat.
England won the opener by 28 runs, but India bounced back in the second match before securing their second straight win. The fourth Test starts on Friday in Ranchi.
