India thrashed England by 317 runs in the second Test at the MA Chidambram Stadium in Chennai to level the four-match series at 1-1. Having lost the opening Test by 227 runs, India came roaring back to outclass the visitors from start to finish. On a pitch that took turn from Day 1, Indian spinners, led by Ravichandran Ashwin, came into their own and tormented the English batsmen. With the bat, Rohit Sharma was India's hero in the first innings, while Ashwin, who took a total of eight wickets in the match, hit a sensational 106 in the second innings.
Twitter was in euphoria after India's massive win. Cricketers, Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan all hailed India's incredible performance in the second Test.
India went into the match after being outplayed by Joe Root and England in the first Test in Chennai. Despite the second Test being held in the same venue, the pitch for the second Test had a very different look to it.
India won the toss and elected to bat but suffered a setback almost immediately as Shubman Gill was dismissed for a duck. Rohit Sharma took centre stage on a pitch that was already starting to crumble.
Along with vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit put India in a position of strength as India posted 329 in the first innings. Rohit was dismissed for a brilliant 161 while Rishabh Pant provided some late fireworks to notch another half-century.
England were on the backfoot from the get-go with Ishant Sharma dismissing Rory Burns in the first over. Ashwin and debutant Axar Patel then went about dismantling the opposition with the former notching his 29th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
England were bowled out for a paltry 134, conceding a massive lead to India.
India came out to bat in the second innings with purpose. But a flurry of wickets on Day 3 morning provided England a ray of hope. Virat Kohli and Ashwin, though, finished any chance of an England revival with a fine 96-run stand.
Ashwin went on to hit his fifth Test hundred as England were made to toil with India setting a mammoth 482-run target.
The Indian spinners once again came to the fore in the second innings, taking all the 10 wickets to fall. Axar Patel registered a maiden five-wicket haul, Ashwin had three dismissals to his name, while Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with two wickets.