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England captain Ben Stokes expressed immense pride in his team's effort, even after their defeat in the fourth Test and the series to India in Ranchi on Monday (February 26). India reached the 192-run target with five wickets remaining just before the tea break on the fourth day, securing a 3-1 lead in the five-match series. England managed to unsettle India by taking three wickets in the first session and two more after lunch, although it wasn't enough to change the outcome in the end.
Ben Stokes lauds England's spinners
"It was a great Test match, the scoreboard doesn't give enough credit to the game as a whole, the ebbs and flows. So much credit to our spinners, being exposed to a situation like that at the start of their careers. I couldn't be more proud," said Stokes to the broadcaster after the match.
The English captain acknowledged that while England had their moments of strong performance throughout the Test, batting against the formidable Indian spin trio proved challenging on day 3 (Feb 25).
"We've been good in periods, yesterday with the bat was incredibly hard against Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep. We didn't think the game would get any better, and we've seen that today," Stokes added.
Root's criticism wasn't fair: Ben Stokes
On Joe Root, who delivered an outstanding 122 not out in the first innings, diverging from England's usual Bazball strategy, Stokes commented:
"Root, incredible knock, the criticism wasn't very fair, class is permanent," he added.
Besides Root, Shoaib Bashir, in only his second Test match, excelled for England with the ball. The 20-year-old spinner claimed a five-wicket haul in India's first innings, earning accolades from Stokes for his performance.
"What a journey, very proud of him. You come into series and you want to win, but my message has been consistent. It's about the input, we don't worry about output," added Stokes.
Dhruv Jurel-Shubman Gill's duo wins in for India
Dhruv Jurel (39 not out) and Shubman Gill (52 not out) combined for a decisive 72-run partnership for the sixth wicket, enabling India to successfully chase down 192 on the fourth day of the fourth Test against England at the JSCA International Stadium. The day commenced with India at 40 without loss, advancing to 84 for no loss before facing setbacks from the English spin attack. Nevertheless, Jurel, following his impressive 90 in the first innings, and Gill stayed not out to secure a remarkable five-wicket victory for India. This win ensures India's series victory, taking an unassailable lead in the five-match series.
The series' concluding Test match is scheduled to begin on March 7 in Dharamsala.
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