Cricket / India-England D-N Test becomes shortest Test since World War II

Cricket Desk: Alot was expected of the Pink-ball Test between India and England as the 4-match series was perfectly set-up at 1-1. It was the first international match at the rebuilt Motera, renamed Narendra Modi Stadium. It was only the 2nd-ever day-night Test in India and England would have believed they had an opportunity to put the pressure on India despite heading into the Test on the back of a 317-run defeat in the 2nd Test in Chennai.

Nut their hopes went up in smoke as India wrapped up the pink-ball Test inside 2 days in Ahmedabad. Virat Kohli's men won by 10 wickets, gunning down a 49-run target in just 7.4 overs in the final session of Day 2 at the Motera. Only 140.2 overs were bowled in the entire Test match.

Both teams bowled exceptionally well on a turning pitch at the Motera but England's inability to post half-decent totals in both the innings meant the match was over in 2 days. As many as 17 wickets fell on Day 2 as England were bundled out for just 81 in their 2nd innings and managed to set India only a 49-run target.

The Pink-ball Test in Ahmedabad, thereby, became the shortest completed match since 1935 and in the post-war era. Only 140.2 overs were bowled in the recently-completed Test, 5 overs less than the previous shortest in the post-war era -- New Zealand vs Australia in Wellington in March 1946.

The previous shortest completed match in Tests was played in 1935 when England beat West Indies in Bridgetown in a Test that lasted just 112 overs.

Meanwhile, this is the first time since 1912 England have lost a Test match inside 2 days.

The shortest completed Test match in India

Incidentally, the Ahmedabad Test is also only the 2nd Test match to be completed inside 2 days in India. The Test match between India and Afghanistan in 2018 in Bengaluru was over inside the first 2 days.

In terms of the number of overs bowled, the Pink-ball Test in Ahmedabad is also the shortest completed Test match played in India.

842: India v England, Ahmedabad, 2021

968: India v Bangladesh, Kolkata, 2019

1028: India v Afghanistan, Bengaluru, 2018