Image Credit- BCCI
The 11th over of England’s second innings concluded
with Joe Root blocking an off-cutter under the eyes. “Ab toh maar hi nahi
rahe hai,” said Jasprit Bumrah via the stump mic. With a target score of
557, the score was 28 for 3. “Now they are not hitting at all” was
Bumrah’s unambiguous message to his teammates and the outside world.
when a ball, England was at 28 for 4 when Jonny Bairstow failed to sweep
against Ravindra Jadeja.
England failed to score. Not in the slightest. By the
time the chase started, the audacity that had been exemplified by Ben Duckett’s
assertion the previous evening—”the more, the better”—had essentially
vanished. India had taken them to the limit and then overcame it to win by 434
runs, their biggest-ever margin.
It was a sign of things to come that the conclusion started with a comedic
run-out, especially considering the victim. A misunderstanding with Zak Crawley
caused Duckett, who scored 153 in the opening innings, to be dismissed for 4.
This was a reference to the injuries India had inflicted during the match.
It could have been worse, though, for England’s fifth
batsman to reach double digits, Mark Wood, with 33, the highest score of the
innings. England lost Joe Root, Stokes, and Rehan Ahmed in the space of 24
deliveries, and at one point they were 50 for 7.
Thus far, the Bazball period has reached its lowest point. Even worse than
their innings loss to South Africa at Lord’s in 2022 and the Ashes Test match
at the same venue the previous summer, where they blew a similar opportunity in
their opening innings. With 14 victories and 6 losses in 21 Tests under the
McCullum-Stokes axis, this is the lone defeat. However, they could lose this
series and lose all three of their previous series.
The onus is on them in this situation, much as the
elation felt when the batters receive recognition. It was more that they gave
up a commanding position that Saturday morning than it was that they lost that
Sunday night.
This meant that the squad played in the field for just 71.1 overs between their
first and second innings, or little over 67 percent of the four days (228.5
overs). India added 234 before declaring on 430 for 4, leaving England 40
minutes to bat before lunch. It was evident that they were circling the drain
for the first 47 overs of the fourth day.
After retiring wounded on 104 the previous evening,
Yashasvi Jaiswal woke up like the Undertaker, coming back to hammer home a
tired attack to all parts for his second double century in as many Tests. If
the section following lunch had been a Tarantino film, the killing sequences
would have been edited to black and white. With a multigenerational hammering,
Mumbai maidan graduates Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan thoroughly destroyed what
remained of England’s bowling.
History indicates that a recalibration is about to
occur. After rain destroyed any hope of a result in the fourth Test in
Manchester, the Lord’s collapse of 2023 was succeeded by a more polished
batting display that reversed Australia’s 2-0 advantage and ultimately secured
a draw with victory in the fifth Test at the Kia Oval.
As soon as they were back in the changing room, Stokes rallied the team,
telling them not to focus on the outcome. During his press appearance, he
restated his private message.
That will present a unique obstacle. After a six-day
holiday in Abu Dhabi after the loss in Visakhapatnam, they came in Rajkot
rejuvenated and reinvigorated. After spending the last few days chasing leather
in the warmest temperatures of the tour so far, they now appear to be in need
of another vacation.
India seems like a separate, recognisable beast in comparison. They now have a
decent idea of England, albeit with four changes to their starting eleven so
far and more to come. Their plans are more definite. In the field, Rohit Sharma
is more apathetic. They are reverting to their former status as the undisputed
champions, undefeated in home series since 2013.
Bumrah’s way: India is hitting right now.