England suffer Test series defeat to India despite Shoaib Bashir bowling heroics

26 February 2024 , 08:09

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England's fightback was too little too late (Image: TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP via Getty Images)

A late fightback from England wasn't enough to prevent Ben Stokes' side from suffering their third successive loss to India - and a series defeat.

England went into day four of the fourth Test in Ranchi knowing that the odds were against them, but had a glimmer of hope once India slipped from 84-0 to 120-5 after spinners Shoaib Bashir, Joe Root and Tom Hartley did the damage. Bashir followed up his magnificent five-wicket haul in the first innings with three more to cut down India's opening order, but his efforts were in vain.

55 from captain Rohit Sharma and 37 from the series' breakout star, Yashasvi Jaiswal, got India off to a solid start but it was partnership of Shubman Gill - who also broke the half-century mark - and Dhruv Jurel which earned the hosts a five-wicket victory. England could only set them a target of 192 following a dismal second innings, even without the jewel of India's bowling attack, Jasprit Bumrah, involved in the fourth Test alongside the injured KL Rahul.

Root's masterful century on day one put England in a strong position to respond to back-to-back defeats, finishing their challenging first innings on 353. India could then only muster 307 on an unpredictable wicket, and it looked as if Stokes and co were on track to make it 2-2 and take the series to the final match.

A measly 145, however, turned the fourth Test on its head and the 40 runs India which racked up on Sunday evening gave England a mountain to climb on day four. After a slow start, England's spinners made inroads before lunch and dismissed both Sharma and Jaiswal in quick succession, while 20-year-old Bashir took two wickets in two balls.

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The partnership of Gill and Jurel was serene, though, as ex-England captain Michael Vaughan hailed on BBC Sport: "It has been a class partnership, so much clarity but also a huge amount of skill showed by both. India win the series as they have known how to win the big moments over the course of three Tests."

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Dhruv Jurel and Shubman Gill saw India through in Ranchi (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Vaughan then lamented England's mistakes by saying: "A great game but England will surely be looking back again at day three where they got most things wrong to allow India back into the game. Another 50/70 runs and it would have been England's game."

Former England batsman Mark Ramprakash added: "England played their part, boosted by Joe Root's gritty century, but ultimately they were out-skilled in these conditions."

Brendon McCullum and his squad will now wait until the fifth Test begins in Dharamshala on Thursday, March 7.

Nathan Ridley