As India surrendered the fourth Test in Manchester by an innings and 54 runs in less than three days, the five-match series shifted decisively in England's favour but the manner of defeats has definitely shocked everyone after the team's historic Lord's victory.
It is now pegged at 2-1, after the hosts had won dominantly by 266 runs in the third Test at Southampton.
However, there is a staggering difference in the manner India were beaten in these two Tests. The home team were rallied by the support they received at the Ageas Bowl and the visitors were under pressure from the moment Ravindra Jadeja dropped Alastair Cook on day one.
England scripted a perfect Test win there and at times those cannot be grudged. Here at Old Trafford though, it was India's own undoing as they showed a shocking lack of grit and determination to stake out at the crease for 61 overs.
Three hours after they collapsed in hapless fashion, rain arrived in Manchester. It didn't stop pouring for the next 16 hours which would have meant that Sunday's play would have been washed out.
The forecast for Monday isn't good either. But none of it matters now, except the score-line that reads 2-1 with the fifth and final Test starting at the Oval on August 15.
"Given the forecast for next two days, India's display can only be described as pathetic," said former England captain Michael Vaughan, talking to BBC's Test Match Special (TMS), after India were shot out for just 161 runs in their second innings.
"It was the best day for batting and England didn't have Stuart Broad, they only had four bowlers. It was the best day for batting and there was no movement through the air. There was a hint of spin but not a great deal," said Vaughan.
Indian skipper MS Dhoni is not a believer in the past or the future, and so the forecast didn't matter to him, as he declared emphatically in the post-match press conferences.
Even so, it was a matter of just 61 overs. The Indian team, having batted only 46.4 overs in the first innings, lowered their standard further in the second innings, lasting only 43 overs. Young batsmen sure, but it was simple ineptitude, to grind the opposition down, that was on display.
