Young Indian Cricketers Shine in Bazball Test, Securing Series Victory for Hosts
This marks England’s inaugural Test series loss since the appointment of Brendon McCullum as coach and Ben Stokes as captain in May 2022.
In Ranchi, England’s ‘Bazball’ strategy encountered its first setback on a sluggish yet manageable pitch, allowing India to secure a five-wicket victory in the fourth Test. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill contributed with half-centuries, propelling India to an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
India’s longstanding home supremacy now extends into its twelfth year, yet this victory could be considered the most cherished thus far. Despite facing a determined English team that opted for unorthodox cricket tactics, India triumphed even in the absence of key players such as Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, and notably Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for this match.
Requiring 152 runs for victory upon resuming at the overnight score of 40/0, Sharma displayed resilience by shouldering the majority of the strike in the morning session and effectively tackling the bowling of James Anderson and Shoaib Bashir. However, India found themselves in a precarious situation when they lost three wickets, including two in consecutive deliveries in the first over after lunch, shortly after Sharma was dismissed due to being stumped while attempting to attack Shoaib Bashir’s bowling.
Upon the arrival of Dhruv Jurel to partner with Shubman Gill, India maintained their composure without further setbacks. Opting for a cautious approach, the duo exploited the spaces in the field, accumulating 72 runs for an unbroken fifth-wicket alliance to guide India to victory. They resorted to aerial shots only when victory was within their grasp and secure.
This marks England’s inaugural Test series loss since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes assumed their roles as coach and captain, respectively, in May 2022. Under their leadership, England adopted an aggressive style of cricket, successfully chasing down 300-plus totals with the agility reminiscent of one-day matches. However, India presented a formidable challenge for England, who struggled to adapt their gameplay to the demands of the situation, particularly against India’s seasoned bowling attack on pitches that demanded meticulous application and patience.
Stokes struggled with his form, managing only one fifty thus far. Joe Root initially struggled with form until he reverted to a traditional style of play, scoring a century that provided England with an advantage at the beginning of this Test match. However, Zak Crawley’s fifty was the sole notable contribution in the second innings as England fell short in setting India a challenging target.
Securing victory in three consecutive Tests, even on home soil, is no easy feat, particularly following a closely contested match in Hyderabad where they narrowly missed the target of 231 on a flat pitch. However, the remarkable resurgence of the Indian team in this series was fueled by exceptional performances from the younger players.
At just 22 years old, Yashasvi Jaiswal has already amassed 655 runs, including two double centuries achieved in Visakhapatnam and Rajkot. Shubman Gill’s performance started off inconsistently, but he persevered to achieve an average of 48.85, aided by a century in Visakhapatnam. A standout player in this Test match has been Dhruv Jurel, who was awarded the Man of the Match title. His score of 90 in the first innings played a crucial role in India narrowing the first innings lead to 46 runs. In his second innings as well, Jurel exhibited maturity by finding singles when England attempted to build pressure.
The inclusion of four debutants—Rajat Patidar, Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, and Akash Deep—in this series underscores the extent to which India had to search for the ideal talent. With the exception of Patidar, who has struggled to make an impact, each player has contributed with a memorable innings or a game-changing bowling performance.
“Clearly indicates their desire to be here,” Sharma remarked during the post-match presentation. “Their dedication and success in domestic cricket, followed by their transition to this level, is a significant challenge. However, their positive responses and conversations with them are highly encouraging to me.”
He further remarked, “It’s certainly disappointing when key players are unavailable, but as a team, there’s little we can do about it. Players like Kohli, Rahul, and Shami have established themselves across various conditions, and stepping into their roles wasn’t easy for the younger players. While there was external pressure, they handled it admirably and responded effectively to all challenges. Such performances serve as motivation and ensure they’re prepared whenever opportunities arise, setting them up for long and successful careers.”
The more seasoned players also made significant contributions. Sharma laid the foundation for this chase, much like he did in Rajkot’s victory, with a patient century. Whenever Bumrah took the ball, he promptly secured a wicket for India. Ravindra Jadeja achieved a rare feat by scoring a century and taking a five-wicket haul in Rajkot. In this match, Ravichandran Ashwin showcased his wealth of experience by claiming five wickets during England’s second innings. His accomplice on this occasion was Kuldeep Yadav, whose craftiness proved challenging for England’s batsmen, who were already grappling with the deceptive nature of the pitch.
Former England cricketer Chris Lewis has been jailed for 13 years for smuggling cocaine into Britain. His co-accused, ex-basketball player Read more
Captain Steven Smith's relationship with Pune proceeded as he drove Rising Pune Supergiant to a seven-wicket triumph over Mumbai Indians Read more
Jos Buttler went out of control with an amazing 37-ball-77 as Mumbai Indians trotted home by eight wickets against Kings Read more
Rising Pune Supergiant snapped Mumbai Indians' six-coordinate winning keep running as the guests beat the table-toppers by three keeps running Read more
