India wrapped up a 3-1 series triumph with another spinning masterclass to beat England by an innings and 25 runs in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Rishabh Pant’s century from Friday provided the hosts with a good platform to build a strong lead over England.
Washington Sundar and Axar Patel added further misery on the English bowlers early on day three with a brilliant 106-run stand for the eighth wicket.
Patel eventually fell for 43 before Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj departed for ducks to leave Sundar stranded with an unbeaten 96 as India were dismissed for 365.
The lead of 160 was always going to be rather tricky for the England batsmen, who have struggled immensely on the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
As was the case in the first innings, Ravi Ashwin and Patel once again bamboozled the visitors’ batting lineup.
Zak Crawley made five, while Jonny Bairstow departed with the very first ball as Ashwin struck early. Patel then nicked off Dom Sibley before Ben Stokes was caught by Virat Kohli for only two.
England were in heaps of trouble at 30-4 and things only got worse when captain Joe Root’s resistance failed, trapped in front by Ashwin for 30. Ollie Pope added only 15 before he was brilliantly stumped by Pant off the bowling of Patel.
Dan Lawrence and Ben Foakes managed to chip away at the deficit with a 44-run partnership, but Patel struck again with Foakes caught at slip by Ajinkya Rahane.
Patel could do no wrong and picked up his fifth scalp when Dom Bess was caught behind for two. Ashwin then cleaned up the final two wickets to bag his own five-wicket haul, England all out for 135 with the two spinners accounting for all 10 wickets.
With the victory, India progress to the World Test Championship final where they will meet New Zealand.
