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:
Final result 4-0 to India. Wow!!! Amazing show guys. 👍 What a way to end the series #TeamIndia #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/XcUhJlO9ZX
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 20, 2016
Congratulations for consistently showcasing an all round performance! Historic 4-0 series win! #INDvENG @BCCI! #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/wnwW6Hw7Jf
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) December 20, 2016
Prolific with the bat, lethal with the ball and ruthless in the field. Deservedly number 1 in the world, congratulations India! #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Mx42PktIim
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) December 20, 2016
India’s CHAMPIONS ! Hard work & passion at play in #INDvENG @Paytm series victory! We’ll continue to nurture & promote new talent @BCCI.
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) December 20, 2016
Well done @imjadeja.. magic spell.. Wonderful win #TeamIndia for making it 4-0 👊👏 @BCCI vs @ECB_cricket #INDvENG
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 20, 2016
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
Win the toss. Score 477. Go on to lose the match by an innings. Now, that takes some doing. #INDvENG
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 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:
Yes Yes Yes ! Jaddu, parcel some ladoo to England. Always good to beat the inventors at their game. Next time we should do well in England. https://t.co/fAevn6P1PS
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 20, 2016
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:
Char gunna Lagaan! #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/BO0veYv2E5
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) December 20, 2016
A collapse of 6 for 15 in second innings in Mumbai and 6 for 15 second innings in Chennai. At least they are consistent #INDvENG
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) December 20, 2016
4-0 #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/6htswZ0E4z
— Bond (@YogeshBond) December 20, 2016
Well played India. Very impressive. England went down fighting like a cornered watermelon.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) December 20, 2016
Hey @piersmorgan , the number of gold medals India won in Rio are now finally equal to the number of test matches England won in this series
— Sand-d Singh (@Sand_In_Deed) December 20, 2016
And we shall leave you with this gem from Kevin Pietersen…
England lost in Chennai?!?!?!?! FFS! 🙈
— KP (@KP24) December 20, 2016
With PTI inputs