In the fourth Test of the five-match series, India defeated England by five wickets at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi.
Ben Stokes won the toss and asked India to bowl first. It was a wise decision, but India countered well with the ball as Ravindra Jadeja, debutant Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj bowled well on the first day.
While others applied Bazball theory, Joe Root (122) played his classic knock to score a well-earned ton which only included 10 fours. Opener Zak Crawley (42) also gave England a decent start but once again failed to capitalise on it. Jonny Bairstow (38), Ben Foakes (47) and Ollie Robinson (58) also provided crucial runs in the end to help the side reach 353/10.
With the ball for India in the first innings, Jadeja scalped a four-wicket haul, while three wickets were picked by Akash Deep. Siraj also acquired two wickets and with him, Ravichandran Ashwin also obtained a wicket.
India, in reply with the bat, had a decent opening courtesy of Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s (73) fearless knock. Shubman Gill (38) also scored a few runs in the middle but others failed miserably with the willow. It was Dhruv Jurel (90) who stood tall and salvaged India from a difficult situation. Jurel, along with Kuldeep Yadav (28) remained solid on Day 2, which aided India reach 307/10, quite close to England’s total.
Shoaib Bashir secured his first fifer of his career in the first inning. Tom Hartley also got three wickets, while James Anderson also picked two wickets.
With few runs of lead and with good two more days to go, the visitors should have played calmly and secured vital runs to put India in the backseat, rather, the team got all out for just 145, which put India way ahead in the game. Crawley (60) provided a much-needed start but no other batter showed intent with the bat. Bairstow (30) was the only other batter who had respectable runs to his name.
Ashwin grabbed another fifer while bowling in the second innings. Kuldeep Yadav also grabbed a four-wicket haul and Jadeja got one wicket as well.
With a mere 192 runs to get, India began their inning softly, with both openers, Rohit Sharma (55) and Jaiswal (37) producing strong starts. While Gill (52*) also scored a fifty, from the other end, India faced small hiccups as they lost a few wickets. Jurel (39*) once again played a saviour knock as he and Gill scored 72 runs together to take India over the finish line.
Bashir was the only positive outcome for the Englishmen as he once again secured three wickets. One wicket each was also picked by Root and Hartley.
Dhruv Jurel was adjudged Player of the Match for his match-saving knock in both innings. With this win, India have clinched the series by 3-1, with a match to go.
Scorecard:
1st Innings
England: 353/10, Overs 104.5, Joe Root 122, Ravindra Jadeja 4/67
India: 307/10, Overs 103.2, Dhruv Jurel 90, Shoaib Bashir 5/119
2nd Innings
England: 145/10, Overs 53.5, Zak Crawley 60, Ravichandran Ashwin 5/51
India: 192/5, Overs 61, Rohit Sharma 55, Shoaib Bashir 3/79