Ashwin stars in Chennai as India thrash England

India captain Virat Kohli said Tuesday his side showed more “grit” and “determination” to thrash England in the second Test, playing down complaints about the difficult pitch.

With local hero claiming eight wickets in the match and scoring 106 in the second innings, India completed a 317-run victory inside four days in Chennai, AFP reported.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel claimed a five-wicket haul on his Test debut as England were out for 164 while chasing an unlikely 482 on day four.

Some said the Chennai pitch, which crumbled from nearly the first day, was not fit for a Test.

Ashwin’s five wickets to help bowl out England for 134 in the first innings in response to India’s 329 set the tone for the host’s dominance, AFP reported.

England conceded a lead of 195 and then struggled on a pitch that offered turn from day one.

“This wicket was very different to the one we played on in the first game,” Ashwin conceded, but he added that the wickets had not fallen from the balls he expected.

“It was the mind of the batsmen that got us wickets.”

But England made no public complaint and Kohli rejected the criticism and said his side played a “perfect game.”

“I think our application with the bat was outstanding,” said the India captain in the AFP report.

“The conditions were challenging for both sides but we showed more application and grit and determination to battle it out.
“We didn’t panic out there looking at the hard turn and bounce on that pitch.”

Kohli highlighted that India scored 600 runs over two innings despite the conditions, and winning the toss made no difference.

“So if you put up that kind of batting performance and you string in those important batting partnerships then we know that our bowlers are going to do the job.”

England captain Joe Root conceded that his side were “outplayed in all three departments this week” and had to learn quickly before the third Test in Ahmedabad.

But he added: “I would say it was a challenging wicket. I do think that it was an important toss to win.”

The third Test — a day-night match — will begin in Ahmedabad on Feb. 24.

Fans will be allowed into the world’s biggest cricket stadium — with a capacity of 110,000 —  with tickets on sale.

It is not clear how many spectators would be allowed entry.