England vs India 2018, Virat Kohli
India's captain Virat Kohli (C) waves after winning the third Test cricket match between England and India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, central England on August 22, 2018. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

It took India just 17 balls on day five of the Trent Bridge Test to wrap up the formalities and win the third Test by 203 runs against EnglandRavichandran Ashwin took the last wicket of James Anderson to hand India its first win in the five-match Test series.

It was a splendid performance from the visitors especially after coming to the 3rd Test 0-2 down. England still has the advantage in the series. However, given their vulnerability and lack of intent of scoring runs India owes a chance of creating history by becoming only the 2nd team in history after Don Bradman’s Australia in 1936 to win a Test series after losing the first couple of Tests.

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India was in complete command in Nottingham

From the very first day, India was in complete command of proceedings. After a 60-run partnership between openers Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul, it was Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane who shared a brilliant partnership of 159 runs which turned the match in favour of the visiting team.

Virat Kohli looked well in pursuit of his 23rd Test century. However, he short by three runs, as he fell pretty to Adil Rashid for yet another time.

Ajinkya Rahane also missed his century got dismissed for 81. Rishabh Pant showed good signs of composure in his very first Test innings. He struck the 2nd ball for a six and then left it very well outside the off stump. India managed to score 329 on the board.

However, it was splendid bowling from Hardik Pandya which bowled England out for just 161 runs in the 1st innings. More importantly, they were bowled out in mere 38.4 overs which gave the Indian batters enough time to grind their way and set a big target.

England vs India 2018, 3rd Test, Trent Bridge - Stat Review

Virat Kohli was the Man of the Match

Virat Kohli got 2nd time lucky and scored his 23rd Test hundred while Cheteshwar Pujara came back to form with a composed 72. Hardik Pandya also scored a run a ball half-century which eventually enabled India to set a massive target of 521 runs to England.

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India began very well on day four. It was Ishant Sharma who bagged the wickets of two left-handed openers. Jasprit Bumrah later got the wicket of Joe Rot while Mohammed Shami sent back Ollie Pope. It was a combined effort from the bowlers. From there on, it was ā great partnership from Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes which took the match to the final day.

Buttler smashed his maiden Test century and played some exceptional shots in the process. Ben Stokes also looked in control during his half-century. It was a splendid spell of fast bowling from Jasprit Bumrah with the 2nd new ball which completely turned the match in India’s favour. He bagged the next four wickets to complete his 2nd five-wicket haul in Tests.

Eventually, it was Ashwin who bagged the final wicket on day five morning to seal the match for the visiting team. It is a well-earned victory which would again ignite the dream of winning a Test series in England.

England vs India 2018
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 22: India captain Virat Kohli applauds the fans after day 5 of the 3rd Test Match between England and India at Trent Bridge on August 22, 2018, in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Here is the stat review from the match

Most wins as captain after 38 Tests:

30 R Ponting
27 S Waugh
22 M Vaughan/ V Kohli
21 V Richards/ M Taylor
20 A Strauss

Most wins as captain for India:

27 MS Dhoni (60 matches)
22 V Kohli (38)
21 S Ganguly (49)
14 M Azharuddin (47)

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Only the fifth time in last 24 Tests in England since the start of Ashes 2015, a Test match has lasted five days:
Eng vs SL, Lord’s, 2016
Eng vs Pak, Edgbaston, 2016
Eng vs SA, The Oval, 2017
Eng vs WI, Leeds, 2017
Eng v Ind, Trent Bridge, 2018

India winning multiple Tests outside Asia in the same calendar year:

Three in 1968 (in NZ)
Two each in – 1971 (Eng, WI); 1976 (NZ, WI); 1986 (Eng); 2002 (WI, Eng); 2005 (Zim); 2006 (WI, SA); 2016 (WI); 2018 (SA, Eng)

Most wickets by Indian pacers in a Test:

20 vs SA, Joburg, 2018
19 vs Eng, Trent Bridge, 2018
18 vs SA, Durban, 1996
18 vs WI, Bridgetown, 1997
18 vs SL, Kandy, 2001

Venues outside Asia where India have won multiple Tests:

3 Queen’s Park Oval
2 Eden Park, Leeds, Lord’s, MCG, Queen’s Sports Club, Sabina Park, Wanderers, Trent Bridge

Biggest wins for India against England by runs:

279 Leeds, 1986
246 Vizag, 2016
203 Trent Bridge, 2018
187 Kolkata, 1961/62

India winning the third Test of a series after losing the first two:

vs WI, Kolkata, 1974-75 (85 runs)
vs Aus, MCG, 1977-78 (222 runs)
vs Aus, Perth, 2008 (72 runs)
vs SA, Joburg, 2018 (63 runs)
vs Eng, TB, 2018 (203 runs)

Teams winning after a 150+ runs innings defeat in the previous Test of the series:

Eng v Aus, Sydney, 1954 (38r)
WI v Aus, Perth, 1997 (10w)
Aus v Ind, Bengaluru, 1998 (8w)
Ind v SL, Galle, 2008 (107r)
WI v Eng, Leeds, 2017 (5w)
Ind v Eng, Trent Bridge, 2018 (203r)

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