Virat Kohli-led Indian cricket team thrashed England by 10 wickets in the third Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series.

This is India’s quickest victory in Test cricket in terms of balls bowled

They have finished the match in 842 deliveries!#INDvENG

ICC (@ICC), February 25, 2021

With this crucial win, the hosts stay in contention to qualify for the World Test Championship final while Joe Root-led England have been knocked out of the WTC final race.

What does that result mean for #WTC21?

India qualify if…
2-1
3-1

Australia qualify if…
2-2

England are eliminated.#INDvENG

ICC (@ICC), February 25, 2021

Chasing only 49 runs to win the pink-ball Test, India’s opening duo of Rohit Sharma (25) and Shubman Gill (15) guided India to a clinical victory with relative ease.

India win

They have taken a 2-1 lead in the Test series after defeating England by 10 wickets in Ahmedabad.#INDvENG ➡️

ICC (@ICC), February 25, 2021

Earlier, Team India spinners had bagged all 10 wickets to bundle England for a mere 81 runs in their second innings on a dusty pitch in Ahmedabad.

Local boy Axar Patel followed his 6/38 in the first innings with another fifer in the second to finish with figures of 11 for 70 runs.

☝️ 6/38
☝️ 5/32

For his outstanding bowling performance, Axar Patel has been named the Player of the Match in the third #INDvENG Test

ICC (@ICC), February 25, 2021

Meanwhile, India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin became the second-fastest spinner to pick 400 Test wickets after Muttiah Muralitharan. 

A major milestone for India’s spin king R Ashwin #INDvENG

ICC (@ICC), February 25, 2021

Twitter reacted to India’s thumping victory against England at the newly reconstructed stadium in Ahmedabad.

Ek match ke liye aesa wicket theek hai jaha ballebaaz ki skill aur takaneek ka test hota hai . LEKIN main iss tara ka wicket aur nahi dekhna chahta aur mujhe lagta hai ki saare khiladi bhi nahi chahte . Bohut ache , india

Kevin Pietersen (@KP24), February 25, 2021

As expected, the end came quickly. India were the better team in these tricky conditions.

Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha), February 25, 2021

2-1 and a 10 wicket win. India on course for WTC final. Eng won the toss and while the pitch did offer turn and all else, both teams played on the same surface and Ind lost the toss. So let’s give credit where due. Pink ball something neither of the two teams have mastered yet.

Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar), February 25, 2021

If we are going to see these pitches … I have an answer to how it could work … Give the Teams 3 innings !!! #INDvENG

Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan), February 25, 2021

Just unbelievable to witness the boys sealing the match in just two days. What a clinical win! Onwards and upwards. Jai Hind. #INDvENG #Pinkballtest @BCCI

Suresh Raina (@ImRaina), February 25, 2021

finished in 2 days Not sure if that’s good for test cricket !If @anilkumble1074 and @harbhajan_singh bowled on these kind of wickets they would be sitting on a thousand and 800 ? However congratulations to @akshar2026 what a spell! congratulations @ashwinravi99 @ImIshant

Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12), February 25, 2021

Congratulations @ashwinravi99 on 400 test wickets.. well done.. keep going @BCCI @StarSportsIndia #ENGvIND

Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh), February 25, 2021

Congratulations to @ashwinravi99 on reaching 400 test wickets. One of the true students of the game we love and an absolute gentleman. Truly world class Ash in so many ways my friend and I am sure there are many more to come. #class #fingerspin #champion #india #cricket #ashwin

Simon Doull (@Sdoull), February 25, 2021

Hi. Thought I won’t tweet during this game BUT WHAT TO DO HEART IS CLOSE TO STOPPING.

Prithi Ashwin (@prithinarayanan), February 25, 2021

The hosts had bounced back in an emphatic fashion with 317 runs win in the second Test in Chennai after suffering a 227-run defeat in the first at the same venue. 

India and England will take on each other in the fourth and final Test match in Ahmedabad, starting from March 4.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/BCCI