Gritty India kill Bazball hype, hand Ben Stokes first Test series defeat as captain

Rohit Sharma handed Ben Stokes his first series defeat as England’s Test captain as India killed the Bazball hype in Ranchi.

India beat England by five wickets at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match Test series. The hosts put in a gritty performance to end Stokes’ unbeaten series run as England captain. Stokes had gone unbeaten in six Test series prior to the India tour. With this win, India also extended their winning run in Test series at home to 17, having last lost a home Test series 12 years ago.

YOUNGSTERS STEP UP FOR INDIA

It was the youngsters that stepped up for India in the absence of some big-name players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and KL Rahul, to clinch the series in Ranchi.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been the leading run-scorer in the Test series, continued his impressive run of form in Ranchi, scoring 73 and 37 in the fourth Test. He went level with Kohli’s record for the most runs in a Test series against England (655), while shattering Virender Sehwag’s 16-year-old six-hitting record.

Dhruv Jurel, who narrowly missed out on a well-deserved debut fifty in Rajkot, played an invaluable knock of 90 in India’s first innings to steer his side out of trouble and turn the game’s tide. He doubled it up with an unbeaten 39 in the final iunnings to guide India to victory.

Debutant Akash Deep was on the money on Day 1, claiming three wickets to deal an early blow to the visitors in Ranchi. He ended with three wickets while giving away 83 runs in 19 overs in the first innings and wasn’t used by Rohit in the second innings.

ASHWIN, ROHIT OOZE CLASS

But it wasn’t just the youngsters that stood up for India. Senior campaigners Rohit and Ravichandran Ashwin also put in crucial performances, with Ashwin becoming the leading Test wicket-taker in India, overtaking the legendary Anil Kumble. He picked a five-wicket haul in the second innings, finishing with six wickets in the match.

Ashwin became just the second player after Kumble to claim 350 Test wickets on Indian soil, while also becoming the only Indian to claim 100 Test wickets against two different opponents, achieving the feat against Australia and England.

Meanwhile, Rohit went past the 4000-run mark in his Test career, becoming just the 17th Indian to get to this landmark. He scored his 17th Test fifty in India’s second innings while also going past 9000 runs in his first-class career.

Kuldeep Yadav brought out the all-rounder in him, shinning with both bat and ball. Kuldeep formed a crucial 77-run stand with Jurel in India’s first innings, chipping in with a gritty 131-ball 28. With the ball in hand, the left-arm spinner claimed four wickets as India bundled the visitors for 145 runs in their second innings.

RANCHI TEST: AS IT HAPPENED

Stokes won the toss and opted to bat first on a tricky Ranchi wicket. The visitors posted 353 runs in their first innings on the back of a vintage century from star batter Joe Root, who remained unbeaten on 122 runs. Ollie Robinson scored his maiden Test fifty while Ben Foakes chipped in with 47 to help England recover after being reduced to 122 for 5 on Day 1.

In reply, India scored 307 runs in their first innings. Jaiswal scored a brilliant 73, but it was Jurel who emerged as the star for India, scoring a gritty 90 while forming game-changing partnerships with Kuldeep and Akash Deep to help India eat into England’s lead.

Shoaib Bashir was the standout bowler for England, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul, while leaking 119 runs in 44 overs.

India came out all guns blazing on Day 3, bowling out the visitors for just 145 runs. It was another masterclass in spin bowling from Ashwin, as he claimed his 35th five-wicket haul in Tests, to go level with Kumble to register the most five-wicket hauls by an Indian bowlers in Test cricket.

In the final innings, Rohit scored a half-century, but India lost wickets in quick succession to allow England back in the game. However, Jurel and Shubman Gill settled the nerves for the hosts and formed an unbeaten 72-run stand to win the game for their side.

India chased down the 192-run target in 60.5 overs, winning the game by five wickets on Day 4. With this win, India clinched the five-match Test series by taking an unassailable 3-1 lead. The fifth and final match of the Test series will be played at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on March 7.