In 2021, a Test match was played between India and England. This Motera Test Match took place at the newly built stadium in Ahmedabad. This stadium is unique; it can accommodate 110,000 people at a time. This is a significant achievement in itself. It was a day-night match, to be played with a pink ball. However, the result was decided very quickly. India displayed a superb performance, defeating England by a huge margin of 10 wkts.
The game ended in two days
This match was unique. It ended in just two days. Considering the total number of balls bowled, it was the shortest Test match since 1935. On the second day, the field was left in a flurry of wickets. A total of 27 wickets fell on the second day alone. The batsmen were at a loss for how to stay on the pitch. One batsman after another came in and was dismissed.
Axar Patel's amazing performance
Axar Patel led India's charge, taking 11 wickets in the entire Test match. Facing him was no easy task for any England batsman. Axar took full advantage of the pitch and pushed England's team back significantly.
Ashwin's big milestone
Along with Axar Patel, Indian off-spinner R. Ashwin also wreaked havoc. Ashwin bowled brilliantly in this match, taking a total of 7 wickets. With this, Ashwin also achieved a significant milestone: he completed his 400 Test wickets in this very match. Together, the pair of Ashwin and Axar Patel gave the England team no chance to stay on the pitch.
England game
England's performance in this match was disastrous. Their batsmen were completely unable to read the Indian spinners' deliveries. In the first innings, England were all out for just 112 runs. Their performance deteriorated even further in the second innings, managing only 81 runs. It was extremely disappointing to see the entire team dismissed for such a low total.
Root's five wickets
India wasn't the only team to excel in bowling. England captain Joe Root also performed well with the ball for his team. Root bowls as a part-time off-spinner. He also showcased his spin magic in this match. Root bowled brilliantly, dismissing five Indian batsmen for just eight runs. His impressive bowling was the reason India were bowled out early, managing only 145 runs in their first innings.
Rohit Sharma's innings
Scoring runs was proving difficult in this match, but Indian batsman Rohit Sharma played a sensible innings. He scored 66 runs in this Test match. Surprisingly, this was the highest score by any batsman in the entire Test match, both teams combined. Rohit's innings significantly helped India stay ahead in the match.
Pink ball effect
A pink ball was used in this day-night match. The pink ball and the pitch were a major reason for the wickets falling in this match. The pink ball was moving very fast after landing on the pitch. The pitch had good bounce. Furthermore, the ball's spin on the pitch was also quite different. Sometimes it spun excessively, sometimes it remained straight.
Victory celebration
This victory for India was truly memorable. Winning a match by ten wickets is always a big deal. This victory, in front of so many people at the Motera Stadium, was made even more special. No one expected the match to end so quickly. But the players' play has forever etched it in the annals of cricket history.
