India decimate England by an innings in Ahmedabad to enter World Test Championship final

Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel pick up five wickets each after Washington Sundar hits unbeaten 96

India's captain Virat Kohli, centre, congratulates Ravichandran Ashwin, right, after dismissing England's Zak Crawley during the third day of fourth Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday, March 6, 2021. India won the Test by by an innings and 25 runs and the series 3-1. AP

Ravichandran Ashwin picked up five wickets in England's second innings in the fourth Test in Ahmedabad. Getty

India's Axar Patel, right, celebrates with captain Virat Kohli after the dismissal of England's Ben Stokes. AP

India's Axar Patel picked up five wickets in the second innings of the Ahmedabad Test against England. AFP

England's Dan Lawrence put up a brave fight, scoring a fifty in the second innings on Saturday. AFP

India's Washington Sundar raises his bat as he walks off the field after remaining unbeaten on 96 during the third day of fourth Test. AP

Washington Sundar, right, and Axar Patel added 106 runs. AP

India's Washington Sundar missed out on a deserved century. Reuters

Axar Patel scored 43 batting at number nine. Getty

Team physiotherapist checks out India's Mohammed Siraj, left, after he got hurt while fielding on Saturday. AP

England's Ben Stokes was rewarded for his hard work as he finished with four wickets. Reuters

Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel took all 10 wickets on Saturday as India overpowered England inside three days to win the fourth Test and clinch the series 3-1.

India's 13th consecutive series triumph at home also secured their spot in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in June.

After the innings and 25-run victory in Ahmedabad, India captain Virat Kohli hailed the way his side came back from a game down to dominate the series, completing three wins in only nine of the 15 days available.

"The comeback in Chennai [the second Test] pleased me the most. The first game was an aberration and England outplayed us," Kohli said.

"We bowled and fielded with more intensity and so the comeback was very heartening. Our bench strength is extremely strong and that's a good sign for Indian cricket.

“We are obviously happy to win the series, but there are always things to improve,” Kohli added. “Now, we can accept and admit that we are in the WTC final. It did become a bit of distraction for us in New Zealand, but we took it one game at a time since.”

Ashwin bowled Dan Lawrence for 50 and ended England's second innings on 135 to seal the match at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Ashwin, who was named player of the series, led the bowling chart with 32 wickets followed by Patel, who played one game fewer, on 27. England spinner Jack Leach was third with 18 scalps.

Kohli praised Rohit Sharma for his 161 which proved decisive in the second Test in Chennai and Ashwin, who he described as India's "most bankable player over the years".

This win was set up by wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who made 101 on day two, and Washington Sundar, who hit an unbeaten 96 as India made a commanding 365.

Pant scored his third Test ton in a 113-run stand with Sundar to lift India from a precarious 146-6 in response to England's first innings of 205.

India coach Ravi Shastri singled out Pant's performance with the bat and behind the wickets as "magnificent".

"He was told in no uncertain terms that he has got to respect the game a little more. He's got to lose a bit of weight and work hard on his keeping," said Shastri.

"Yesterday's innings was the best counter-attacking innings I have seen in India. He built a partnership with Rohit playing against his nature – to do that is not easy."

Sundar kept up the attack as the final three wickets fell on Saturday morning but ran out of partners and remained four shy of his century.

England lost early and regular wickets to be dismissed in 54.5 overs.

Ashwin struck twice on successive balls to send back Zak Crawley for five and Jonny Bairstow for nought. It was Bairstow's third duck in four innings.

Patel got opener Dom Sibley for three and then Ben Stokes for two after the left-hand batsman miscued a sweep and was caught at leg gully by Kohli.

Ashwin took the prized scalp of skipper Joe Root for 30 to virtually end England's hopes. The visitors have scored more than 200 just once in their last six innings.

England fast bowler James Anderson made an impression with his three wickets and 14 maidens in 25 overs.

Root topped the batting chart with 368 runs, including 218 in the opening Test that England won convincingly.

“The last three games have been testing for us but credit to India, they’ve outplayed us,” England skipper Root said. “We’ve got to improve individually and become a better side for this experience … and good luck to them in the final.”

The two teams now head into five Twenty20 internationals starting March 12 at the same venue in Ahmedabad.