IND vs ENG: "A Shock For Indian Team," Says Ajit Agarkar As England Chase Down Record 378 In Edgbaston Test

In the fifth and final match of the rescheduled Test series, England defeated India by seven wickets on Sunday, recording their highest-ever successful chase in the fourth innings of a Test match.

The game at Edgbaston, Birmingham, featured an incredible comeback by the home team as they prevailed after giving the visitors a 132-run lead in the first innings.

Indian Bowling No Match For Joe Root And Jonny Bairstow

England needed to score 378 runs in the game’s last innings, which they comfortably accomplished thanks to undefeated centuries from Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow. 

The hosts needed just 76.4 overs to get home. In the last innings, they scored over five runs each over. Bairstow scored 114 not out compared to Root’s undefeated 142.

Both innings followed the opening wicket partnership of 107 runs between Alex Lees (56) and Zak Crawley (46), which took just 21.4 overs. The partnership of Root and Bairstow, on the other hand, amassed an unbroken 269 runs for the fourth wicket in 52.3 overs. 

Should Have Made Things Difficult For England: Ajit Agarkar

Former cricketer Ajit Agarkar claimed that the team should have made things difficult for England although acknowledging that nothing could be done once players like Bairstow and Root get going. He continued by saying that the Indian squad will be shocked by such a defeat. 

“It’s not a disgrace when there are two guys who have confidence and are quality players… (but) it’s the manner in which India has lost this game,” said Ajit Agarkar in the post-match show on SonyLIV. 

“They certainly had to make them (England) work a lot harder… To get it as easily as they (England) did, it has to be a shock for the Indian team,” he added. 

Notably, England’s 378-run chase is also the biggest successful chase by any side in a Test match against India. 

With its historic victory on Sunday, England tied the score 2-2 in their five-match series. 

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