Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin has the last laugh in a heated altercation with James Anderson

Indian players were all over James Anderson as soon as he walked into the middle

Having ignited a controversy during yesterday’s press conference, James Anderson found himself cornered by the Indian players upon arriving at the crease on the final day of the Mumbai Test. A visibly livid Ravichandran Ashwin began the war of words which the veteran seamer did not take too kindly to. However, the off-spinner had the last laugh as India inflicted an innings defeat on England and sealed the series with one more match left.

Starting the fifth day needing 49 more runs to make the hosts bat again, Jonny Bairstow perished quite early after failing to read a carrom-ball from Ashwin. Both Chris Woakes as well as Adil Rashid followed suit upon showing no application whatsoever. With the writing already on the wall, Anderson trudged onto the middle and the Indians were waiting for him.

Following Virat Kohli’s imperious double century which had taken the match out of the visitors’ grasp, the experienced seamer had taken a dig at the Indian skipper pointing out to his poor output in the 2014 series in England. As expected, it did not take not too long for Ashwin to have a go at Anderson.

The altercation threatened to escalate as Ravindra Jadeja (with whom Anderson has had a checkered past) joined in on the action. Kohli veered away from his usual in-your-face approach and attempted to play peacemaker. Thankfully, the umpires quickly walked up to the players and defused the situation. The seasoned duo of Marais Erasmus and Bruce Oxenford intervened at the right time.

Soon after that incident, Anderson tamely glanced another carrom-ball to offer a simple catch to mid-on. Ashwin scalped his sixth wicket of the innings and took his match tally to twelve as India took an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Catch the highlights of the Ashwin-Anderson spat here

At the end of match press conference, Kohli went on to reveal, “For the first time, I was trying to calm things down. Ashwin wasn't pleased with whatever Anderson said in the press or something like that. Ashwin told me on the ground, I had no clue about it. So I didn't know what to make of it, I was laughing about it but Ashwin wasn't too impressed so he let him know. Not using any bad words, honestly.”

He elaborated, “I think, Ashwin told Anderson he was pretty disappointed with what he said and it's important to accept defeat the way it is and things like that. You know how Ashwin is, he's to the point, he can really strike you well. He doesn't need to say bad words. That's exactly what happened. Later on, I told James that it's fine – these things happen so let's move on with it.”

Alastair Cook chooses to see it differently

Despite the series starting in good spirit, it did not take much to notice that a flicker might be enough to bring back the bad blood of 2014. Parthiv Patel’s cheeky remark at England's bowling attack upon completion of the second day of the Mumbai Test turned out to be the catalyst.

With Anderson’s comments adding fuel to the fire, the usually feisty Ashwin decided not to back away and responded in his own manner. Even though the series is already won by India, the fifth Test in Chennai promises to be a fascinating affair as the visitors will look to take something from the Test leg of the tour.

England skipper Cook felt, “It was a bit of a sour end, a disappointing end in terms of how well the spirit between both sides has been. It was clearly in reference to what Jimmy said yesterday, which is kind of getting blown out of all proportions, as it can do here. He was just stating a fact about Virat which is probably true. Yeah, Ashwin was just obviously sticking up for his captain which I thought was slightly unnecessary.”