An mistake of judgment by England captain Ben Stokes, along with Shreyas Iyer’s mental fortitude, handed India a big advantage during the afternoon session on Day 4 of the current Test in Visakhapatnam.
Ben Foakes pushed Ravichandran Ashwin’s ball towards square leg and called Stokes for a single. While the single appeared to be simple, Stokes took an overly relaxed approach to begin the run.
Halfway through the run, Ben Stokes likely felt the single was a little too tight and attempted to hurry to the striker’s end. Shreyas Iyer raced towards the ball, making a quick pick-up and toss to earn a direct hit. While the Indian fielders originally believed Stokes was safe, replays revealed that the southpaw was barely short of his crease.
Click here for a video of Stokes’ run-out.
Ben Stokes made a spectacular catch to eliminate Shreyas Iyer in the second innings. Iyer made sure to reciprocate with a celebration identical to Stokes’. Here’s the video:
Stokes will probably kick himself for not diving, since it may have saved him. Given his ability to bat in the lower order, it was a crucial wicket for the hosts.
Ben Stokes’ wicket not enough for India to relax
While Stokes’ dismissal was a huge relief for the Indians, they must continue to pick up wickets as England continues to bat at a strong tempo. Tom Hartley has stepped out to bat with a cheerful attitude once more, and he has already shared a half-century with Ben Foakes.
India will feel more stress as England scores more runs. Captain Rohit Sharma must think carefully about which bowlers to use and where to put fielders. He needs to keep England on their feet.