Four tests later, we have a winner! India won the five-match series against England by five wickets at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi, extending their unbroken home streak.
Ben Stokes and his teammates fought hard throughout the four matches, but they were unable to capitalize on important occasions. India kept their nerve on a difficult Day 4 despite losing a few fast wickets to grab an unbeatable 3-1 lead despite missing numerous first-choice players.
For the hosts, it was a pleasing series victory in a rubber in which they had been tested on all fronts. While the Dharamsala Test will have no bearing on the assignment’s success, the setting of the World Test Championship indicates that India would want to reflect on their Ranchi victory and improve.
On that point, here are two errors and one masterstroke committed by Team India during the fourth Test against England.
3 Mistake – India’s conservative batting order: A missed opportunity on Day 4
On Day 4, India required 152 runs to win with 10 wickets in hand. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal started brilliantly, keeping the team ahead in the game, but the loss of both openers in rapid succession raised some concerns.
At that moment, India should have been more inventive with their batting order, capitalizing on the best batting phase of the day. With circumstances becoming more difficult in the second and third sessions, it would have been perfect for them to send their top scorers early on.
Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan might have been elevated up the order, with Ravindra Jadeja also an option to maintain a right-left combination in the middle. However, by the time Jadeja and Sarfaraz arrived at the crease, they had enough worries about the surface’s behaviour.
However, in the end, it did not cost India anything.
2 Masterstroke – Dhruv Jurel and Shubman Gill ’s calm approach seals series win for India
When the roller effect faded, batting became difficult. Uneven bounce was typical, and Stokes’ fields made it difficult to find boundaries on Day 4.
It would have been easy for Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel to become distracted by a few wickets going to defensive shots and attempt to attack the opponent. However, the duo realized that only bounce was a concern, and the turn was still manageable.
Instead than attempting to reduce the target immediately, Gill and Jurel relied on their precise footwork to nurture singles and doubles. The former used his feet expertly, indicating a significant shift in his overall approach in Tests.
The decision paid off, as the two put up a chanceless, match-winning combination to propel India over the finish line.
1. Mistake – India wasted Kuldeep Yadav’s potential by introducing him late in the first innings
England took a commanding lead in the first innings, scoring 353 runs, which was arguably above average. While their hitters earned a lot of credit, India didn’t help themselves by being obstinate about their bowling changes.
Once again, R Ashwin was not offered a fresh ball. While this didn’t have a significant impact on the hosts, with Akash Deep taking three wickets, Mohammed Siraj was extremely expensive at the other end. Furthermore, Kuldeep Yadav, perhaps the finest spinner in the series thus far, was added late.
Kuldeep came on as the fifth bowler, just as Joe Root had settled into his crease. He bowled only 12 overs out of England’s 104.5, allowing 22 runs and remaining wicketless. Had Rohit Sharma brought him on earlier and given him a more significant role, India may have taken control from the opening day of the Test.