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England captain Ben Stokes made a hilarious revelation on his wicket-keeper Ben Foakes after the Three Lions lost the fourth Test match against India in Ranchi on February 26 (Monday). Stokes said that Foakes has 'man crush' on young India star Dhruv Jurel, who impressed everyone with his wicket-keeping and batting skills in the Ranchi Test.
"Both innings he (Dhruv Jurel) played really well," ESPNCricinfo quoted Stokes as saying.
"His keeping was also something to watch. I think Ben Foakes has a little man crush on him there," he added.
Ben Stokes showers praise on youngsters
In the aftermath of the Ranchi Test which England lost by five wickets, skipper Ben Stokes was generous with his accolades for the budding stars from both squads, despite his team succumbing to a five-wicket loss. The spotlight shone brightly on England's Shoaib Bashir, who grabbed headlines with a sensational five-wicket haul in what was only his debut Test series, proving his mettle against India's robust batting force.
On the Indian front, Dhruv Jurel emerged as the linchpin, delivering innings of critical importance that significantly influenced India's game plan. Jurel's standout performance of 90 runs in the opening innings was a masterclass in averting a batting disaster, and his undefeated 39 in the match's climax was instrumental in India's successful pursuit of the 192-run target.
Stokes pragmatic about the future of Test cricket
Stokes expressed his admiration for the performance of these young players throughout the series, highlighting their significant contributions to their respective teams. He underscored his optimism for the future of Test cricket, suggesting that the impressive showing by the youngsters in this series is a promising indicator of the sport's bright prospects.
"You know, I think so far the series really has a lot of talent, not only for us, but also for India. I am a massive Test cricket fan, I love Test cricket and I think on both sides we've seen some young, inexperienced players come out. I think the future is great for Test cricket," Stokes further added.
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