India beat England in the fourth and final Test by an innings and 25 runs inside three days to secure a 3-1 series win.
A pitiful batting performance from the tourists saw them fail to catch India’s hefty lead of 160.
Dan Lawrence’s half-century was the highlight of an otherwise uninspiring second innings for England who were bowled out for a measly 135.
India resume their first innings
India began the day 294-7, with a lead of 89.
Axar Patel and Washington Sundar frustrated England and built India into a lead of 160 before poor running from Axar saw him short of his crease after a good throw from Jonny Bairstow saw the Indian spinner run out for 43.
With the very next ball Ishant Sharma was on his way too after Ben Stokes had him out lbw for a golden duck.
With just one Indian wicket left, Sundar was left waiting on 96 not out, hoping Mohammad Siraj could see out the final few balls so he could reach his maiden Test century.
Siraj could not do this however, as he lasted just three deliveries before being bowled by Stokes for a duck.
Sundar was left stranded on 96 not out, but India still had a competitive lead of 160 after being bowled out for 365.
England trail India by 160 runs
England negotiated the first three overs to go into the lunch break at 6-0, 154 behind India.
The tourists knew they needed to build big partnerships to keep their slim chances alive in the match, but Crawley lasted just under five hours as he edged to Ajinkya Rahane in the slips to give Ravichandran Ashwin his first of the innings.
Things got worse with the very next ball as Bairstow picked out Rohit Sharma to see him depart for a golden duck, in what looks like could be his last Test innings.
Ashwin was also on a hat-trick as captain Joe Root arrived at the crease and successfully avoided the spinner from doing so.
Dom Sibley soon saw himself walking back to the pavilion, albeit in extremely unfortunate circumstances.
The Warwickshire opener’s shot smacked into Shubman Gill at short leg, which then bounced up and into the gloves of Rishabh Pant.
Axar was once again causing major problems for England and he had another wicket soon after as a poor sweep shot from Stokes picked out India captain Virat Kohli with an easy catch.
Root and Ollie Pope then managed to get England to 65-4, before the latter was superbly stumped by Pant, putting Axar on the cusp of another five-wicket haul.
Root himself was soon on his way as he was given out lbw by another perfect delivery by Ashwin.
Ben Foakes and Lawrence then got England through to the tea break at 91-6, still some 69 runs behind.
A final session to forget for England
Foakes then was on his way after nicking behind to Rahane after the on-field umpires called for a review.
No more than two overs later the end began to be in sight as Dom Bess edged behind to Pant, giving Axar another five-wicket haul.
India were just two wickets away from victory, and with England still 49 runs behind, an innings loss was on the horizon.
Jack Leach was then given out for caught behind, before the spinner instantly reviewed the decision to show the he had not touched the bat and the decision was reversed.
There was a positive note for England however, as Lawrence looking in much better form reached his second Test 50 off 93 balls.
There was to be no luck on Leach’s side this time around however, as he picked out Rahane with an edge to put the hosts one win away from victory.
The final wicket came just three deliveries later as Lawrence’s impressive innings ended after Ashwin castled his stumps.
India secured a convincing victory by an innings and 25 runs and in the process also sealed a 3-1 Test series victory.
Pant was awarded the man-of-the-match award for his stunning first innings century, while the Player of the Series went to Ashwin for picking up the most wickets in the series with 32, and his century in the second Test.
Root scored the most runs in the series with 368 and Leach took the most wickets for England with 18.
India book World Test Championship final spot
With the victory in Ahmedabad, India have confirmed their place in this summer’s World Test Championship final against New Zealand.
Attention now turns to the five-match T20 series beginning next Friday in Ahmedabad.
With the T20 World Cup beginning in India in October, all preparation is vital if England are to go one step further than they did in 2016.
The first T20 starts at 1:30pm on March 12, with live coverage on Sky Sports Cricket.
By Josh Mann
