Honestly, the scorecards don't really tell you the whole story. If you just look at the result—India winning by an innings and 64 runs—it looks like a typical home-turf bullying. But the India England 5th Test match in Dharamsala was way more cinematic than that. You had the snow-capped Himalayan peaks in the background, Ravichandran Ashwin playing his 100th Test, and James Anderson finally hitting that mythical 700-wicket mark.
It was a vibe. But for England, it was a brutal reality check for the "Bazball" era.
The Kuldeep Yadav Show Most People Missed
Everyone talks about Ashwin, and rightfully so, but Kuldeep Yadav basically broke England's spirit on Day 1. England won the toss and chose to bat. Smart, right? They were cruising at 100 for 1. Then Kuldeep started doing Kuldeep things.
He didn't just take wickets; he made world-class batters look like they’d never seen a cricket ball before. He was the quickest Indian to 50 Test wickets in terms of balls bowled. Think about that. Faster than every legendary spinner India has ever produced. He ended up with 5 for 72 in that first innings, and honestly, England never recovered.
One minute Zak Crawley is playing a gorgeous drive for 79, and the next, he’s castled through the gate. It was a collapse of epic proportions. England went from 100 for 1 to 218 all out. In less than 60 overs.
Rohit and Gill: The Twin Tons
When India came out to bat, it wasn't a struggle. It was a statement. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill both smashed centuries on Day 2. They put on 171 together. Rohit was his usual effortless self, scoring 103, while Gill looked like the future of Indian batting with a crisp 110.
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You've gotta feel for Ben Stokes. He actually bowled for the first time in ages after his knee surgery and got Rohit with his very first ball. It was a seed. A genuine jaffa that rattled the off-stump. But by then, the damage was massive. India finished their first innings at 477, a lead of 259.
Ashwin’s Century of Tests
It’s kinda poetic that Ravichandran Ashwin took a five-wicket haul in his 100th match. He became only the second bowler ever to take a fifer in his debut Test and his 100th. He just understands the angles better than anyone else.
England’s second innings was a mess. They tried to "Bazball" their way out of a hole, but they just dug it deeper. Ben Duckett tried to charge Ashwin and got bowled. Ben Stokes tried to defend and got bowled. It was a masterclass in psychological warfare.
Ashwin ended the match with nine wickets. Nine. In his 100th game.
Jimmy Anderson’s 700 Club
We have to mention James Anderson. Even though England got hammered, the 41-year-old became the first pacer in the history of the game to reach 700 wickets. He got Kuldeep Yadav caught behind to reach the milestone. It's one of those "where were you when" moments in cricket.
The stadium gave him a standing ovation, and even the Indian players clapped. It was a rare moment of pure sportsmanship in a series that was otherwise pretty heated.
Why the India England 5th Test Match Actually Mattered
This wasn't just about winning a series 4-1. It was about India proving they have a "bench strength" that is actually scary. No Virat Kohli. No Mohammed Shami. No KL Rahul for most of the series.
Instead, we saw:
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- Yashasvi Jaiswal becoming the second Indian ever to cross 700 runs in a series.
- Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal scoring fifties on debut like it was a domestic game.
- Dhruv Jurel showing nerves of steel behind the stumps and with the bat.
England came with a plan to disrupt Indian spin, but they found out that in Dharamsala, the air is thin and the margin for error is even thinner.
Lessons for the Next Series
If you're following the WTC (World Test Championship) standings, this win was huge for India. It solidified their spot at the top. For England, it was a "back to the drawing board" moment. You can't just attack every ball when the ball is turning a mile and Kuldeep Yadav is staring you down.
Actionable Insights from the 5th Test:
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- Trust the Wrist Spin: Kuldeep Yadav proved that wrist spinners are the ultimate X-factor in modern Tests, even on tracks that traditionally help pacers.
- Youth Over Experience: India's willingness to debut youngsters like Padikkal and Jurel shows that the domestic structure (Ranji Trophy) is still the best finishing school.
- Adaptability is King: England failed because they wouldn't stop attacking. India won because they knew when to grind and when to go for the kill.
To keep up with the latest stats or to deep dive into how Jaiswal is breaking records, check out the official BCCI match center or follow the ICC rankings updates. The next time these two meet, England will need more than just bravado to survive the Indian spin trap.