Joe Root-led England cricket team started the Test series with a bang. They looked rock-solid in the series opener against India at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. Captain Joe Root scored his fifth double century and put his team in a commanding position most of the time.

It was quite tough for India to challenge the visitors and eventually succumbed to an embarrassing 227-run defeat at home. However, the tables turned ever since the second Test match. India bounced back and beat England by 317 runs to level the series.

After that, the hosts beat the visitors by 10 wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the series. Coming to the fourth and final Test match, India won by an innings and 25 runs to seal the series at 3-1.

Team India qualified for the ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand at Lord’s in June this year. Ravichandran Ashwin was named the man of the series for his contribution with the ball and the bat. He took 32 wickets in the series while also composing his fifth Test century.

Rishabh Pant was named the man of the match for his 101 in the fourth Test. His innings was laced with 13 fours and 2 sixes. The main reason behind England surrendering to India was their inability to play against Team India’s spin attack. Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel combined together and took 32 and 27 wickets respectively.

Shoaib Akhtar lashes out at England

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar slammed the England cricket team for not showing a lot of intent against Team India. “All in all, it was an embarrassing defeat for the England team, and they have got a reality check in India.

But they need to now learn the art of playing spin in the sub-continent well. Not sure, how are they going to lift themselves up from this humiliating defeat and motivate themselves to play better,” Shoaib Akhtar said on his Youtube channel.

“While many might talk about the wickets in the series, but look how India scored 365. They also played on the same wickets, where the England batsmen struggled. If Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar can score runs, why can’t the English? With utmost ease, India has beaten England in the series, and sealed a spot in the final of the World Test Championship final,” Akhtar added.