India pulled the curtains down on England’s winter of discontent in the manner befitting their dominance as the hosts clinched the five-match series 4-0 with an innings and 75-run victory in the fifth and final cricket Test in Chennai on Tuesday.
Spinner Ravindra Jadeja was the hero of the day as he returned exceptional figures of 7/48 to spell doom for England.
Last 18 matches unbeaten!
Virat Kohli’s men set a new record for India.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/xhwAAyfgyT— ScoopWhoop News (@scoopwhoopnews) December 20, 2016
Jadeja’s effort deserves special mention as he shone on a pitch where there were no demons. However, triple-centurion Karun Nair walked away with the Man of the Match award for his unbeaten 303-run knock that set the tone for the victory.
In the process of winning their ninth match of the year to stretch an unbeaten run to 18, the hosts wrote and rewrote a plethora of records, including notching up their biggest-ever series victory over England.
There was universal praise from the cricket fraternity, led by Sachin Tendulkar:
It’s 4-0 ! What a magnificent victory this is.
Kudos Team India. The K-factor Kohli- Kumble working magically. @anilkumble1074 #INDvENG— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 20, 2016
Piers Morgan, of course, had something to say.
All over. A 4-0 drubbing.
Congrats @imVkohli & his brilliant India team. What a disgraceful capitulation by England. Cook OUT. #INDvENG— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 20, 2016
Virender Sehwag led the tributes for Jaddu:
Sir Ravindra Jadeja Didn’t Win Man Of The Match Because They Know Sir Jadeja Is Not Human.
Almighty Of The Match! #IndvEng #IndvsEng pic.twitter.com/kPYiD8CZ7F— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) December 20, 2016
And as always, leave it to the fans to get creative:
And we shall leave you with this gem from Kevin Pietersen…
With PTI inputs