India went down in the fifth and final Test against England by 118 runs at the Oval on Tuesday, losing the series to the hosts 4-1.
For India, KL Rahul’s 149 off 224 balls and Rishabh Pant’s 114 off 146 balls heroic resistance went in vain. The sensational centuries from both the batsmen salvaged some lost pride for India but could not turn the game into a win.
“There will be things that we would sit down and think about which could have been taken as opportunities. But we have no regrets from this series. I am not saying it is not a fair scoreline because they played better than us, but we haven’t been outplayed,” said Indian skipper Virat Kohli after the last match of the series.
However, England had the last laugh as they clinched the series 4-1. The English leg-spinner Adil Rashid dashed all hope for India with his lethal blows. Evoking memories of Shane Warne’s ‘Ball of the Century’, the 30-year-old dismissed the well-set Rahul in the most exceptional manner, breaking a brilliant 204-run partnership in the process.
Fantastic display of controlled aggression by @klrahul11 and @RishabPant777.
This partnership is just one of the many fascinating moments this Test Series has provided us with. Test cricket at its absolute best. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/bN3WzdEDUb— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 11, 2018
Rashid also went on to remove Pant in the very next over, ensuring that England registered a thumping victory and also giving opener Alastair Cook a fitting farewell, who retired after the final test.
Alastair Cook: “It’s been a privilege to play with England’s greatest cricketer.”
James Anderson: “He’s gone above and beyond, he’s my best mate.”#FriendshipGoals#ENGvIND READ 👇https://t.co/9Q6JmeeTb9 pic.twitter.com/bU4SOQDtKA
— ICC (@ICC) September 11, 2018
Along with Cook, the series also ended in a memorable fashion for pacer James Anderson as he went on to become the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket among the pacers.
Anderson surpassed Australian legend Glenn McGrath’s tally of 563 wickets, taking the final wicket of the match as he dismissed Mohammad Shami for a duck, as India were bowled out for 345.
However, India under Virat Kohli suffered a new low with the Oval Test loss as this is the first time since their 0-4 defeat against Australia in 1991-92.
Kohli, ended up as the highest run scorer with 593 runs at an average of 59.30 including two centuries. While James Anderson went on to become the highest wicket-taker in the series as he claimed 24 wickets.
He showed his class with the bat throughout the series, and finished as the top run scorer with an outstanding 593 runs – @imVkohli is the India Player of the Series! 👏 #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/gCoMpe1WUm
— ICC (@ICC) September 11, 2018