In what was labelled as the "Revenge Series", India drew first blood, after a gameful fightback from England fell just short in the first Test in Ahmedabad.
Starting the final day with the overnight score on 340 for five, after they had been asked to follow on following their disastrous first innings, Alastair Cook and Matt Prior's resistance only lasted a few overs as India registered a nine-wicket win.
England were bowled out for 406, with the hosts needing a mere 77 runs to make it 1-0, with Pujara, who opened the innings for the absent Gautam Gambhir, yet again looking brilliant in his 51 ball stay, which yielded him 41 runs. Sehwag played a quick came of 25 from 21 balls, with Virat Kohli then giving Pujara company as India cantered home in under 16 overs.
In the opening session, India picked up the five wickets that were required after England had started the day on 340 for five.
Pragyan Ojha was the catalyst to England's demise, picking up the two crucial wickets of Cook and Matt Prior.
The England captain started the day on 168, while Prior began 16 runs short of triple figures. The wicketkeeper-batsman was the first to go, falling for 91 after looping a catch straight back to Ojha. Cook (176 in 374) followed soon after, with Ojha (four for 120) finding a way through the almost impregnable defenses of the left-hander.
The other three English wickets fell quickly enough, with India left with the simple task of knocking down the 77 runs.
"There was something in wicket to start with but as the game progressed there was low bounce but not much turn," India captain MS Dhoni said during the post-match presentation. "It was hardwork for the spinners and it was a fantastic effort from them.
"Even if you misjudged the flight you had time to adjust and not much carried to the slips. It was important not to give many runs."
Dhoni also lauded the efforts of man of the match Pujara and Ojha. "It was a fantastic game for Pujara," he said. "He has the temperament to play big innings and has shown that on the domestic circuit. He makes sure he converts fifties to hundreds.
"Ojha looks to bowl tight and he knew it was up to him to take responsibility."
Cook acknowledged his side's first innings failure led to his side's demise, but also chose to concentrate on the positives that can be taken into the next Test match. "We can look at a number of reasons why we didn't win, but our first innings wasn't good enough," he said. "It was a great fightback, there was a glimmer of hope, but it always had to be something special.
"We'll work hard going into Mumbai. The pitch got slower as the game went on. We need runs in the first innings, they are crucial, and we need to keep working as hard as we can."
England will need to have a major rethink now before the second Test in Mumbai on Nov. 27, while Dhoni will hope for more of the same from his team, as well as the conditions.
