RANCHI, India (Reuters) – Ben Stokes expressed his pride in his team’s commitment despite experiencing his first series defeat since becoming England’s test captain against India. The 32-year-old captain stated on Monday that India secured an unassailable 3-1 series lead with a five-wicket victory in Ranchi, maintaining their unbeaten streak in test series on home soil since 2012.
England’s collapse in the second innings left India chasing 192 runs for victory, but it was a challenging task for the hosts as they stumbled to 120-5. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, with figures of 3-79, led England’s spirited fightback, yet India ultimately sealed their third consecutive win.
“I believe it was a fantastic test match. While the scoreline indicates India’s triumph by five wickets, it does not truly capture the essence of the entire game,” Stokes remarked during the presentation ceremony. “Throughout my two-year tenure, my message remains consistent – focus on contributing to the team without being overly concerned about the outcome.”
“Every player has given their all in every test match here, leaving nothing behind on the field, and that’s all I can ever ask of them.”
England claimed victory in the series opener in Hyderabad and displayed competitiveness in the subsequent matches in Visakhapatnam and Ranchi. With Jack Leach sidelined due to a knee injury sustained in Hyderabad, England relied on an inexperienced spin attack featuring Bashir and Tom Hartley, both making their test debuts in this series.
“As a captain, I aim to provide these players with the opportunity to confront what might seem like a daunting situation against India in a test match, urging them to approach every ball as a unique opportunity rather than dwelling on past mistakes,” Stokes elaborated.
“This series has showcased tremendous talent, on both sides. I have a deep appreciation for test cricket, and we have witnessed young, inexperienced players excel, painting a promising future for this format.”
Several Indian players, including Dhruv Jurel, also made their debuts in the series, with home captain Rohit Sharma highlighting the wicketkeeper-batter’s exceptional performance. Jurel’s scores of 90 and 39 not out in his second test earned him the player-of-the-match award.
“This series has been incredibly hard-fought, and emerging victorious after four tests is truly gratifying,” Rohit expressed. “Jurel displayed remarkable composure, calmness, and impressive shot-making abilities. In the second innings, he exhibited a great deal of maturity and poise.”
India found themselves in a precarious position at 120-5 before Jurel and Shubman Gill forged an unbroken 72-run partnership to guide the hosts to victory.
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Ed Osmond)
