Lonely Joe, Rampant Rishabh: Five Talking Points From India vs England Test Series

India crushed England inside three days of the fourth Test to clinch the series 3-1 and book their meeting with New Zealand in the World Test Championship final. Let's Take a look at five talking

Trial by spin

The pitch debate dominated the series after England's batting collapse in the second Test in Chennai. But it was the day-night game that prompted former England cricketers Michael Vaughan and David Lloyd to term the Ahmedabad track as "poor" as Indian spinners wreaked havoc to skittle out England for 112 and 81. 

England's players refused to blame the pitch and maintained they were outplayed by a better opposition, while India's veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who led the attack with 32 wickets, noted that no one blames the pitch when seamers take all the wickets on green pitches overseas. 

Breathless Pant leads new heroes

Rishabh Pant left everyone gasping in awe when he reverse swept veteran fast bowler James Anderson for a four over the slips on his way to a match-winning 101 in the final Test, a shot dubbed "brave" by Root. 

The wicketkeeper-batsman emerged as one of India's new Test heroes along with all-rounder Washington Sundar, who scored 96 in the same innings, and left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who took four hauls of five or more wickets in his debut series.

"Absolutely enjoyed the way each player contributed in every department throughout the series, especially Pant, Sundar, Patel, Ashwin and Rohit Sharma," said batting great Sachin Tendulkar of India's rich depth of talent.