Gill , Jurel powers India to 4th test & series win after a challenging game

 

India won Ranchi test ...India won the series 

India withstood several anxious moments before they finally managed to register a highly creditable win over England in 4th test at Ranchi chasing a tricky target of 192 . This 5 wicket win also helped India to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series . This series win is even more creditable as India were without Virat Kohli, Mohammed Shami and Rishabh Pant for the full series and missed out the services of KL Rahul ( did not play since 1st test) , Ravindra Jadeja and Bumrah at various times 

The hero is Dhruv Jurel for this win for his two invaluable knocks during the match .  Maybe Ravichandran Ashwin took 6 wickets and Ravindra Jadeja took 5 wickets in two innings, Yashaswi Jaiswal scored 110 runs in two innings, but it is certain that India could not have won this match without Jurel.  Jurel was the reason why India scored 309 after tottering at  177 for 7 in the first innings to get back in the game .  It is not easy to add another 132 runs for the last 3 wickets with the lower order batsmen staying on one side.  Even in the second innings, when India lost the wickets of Ravindra Jadeja and Sarfraz Khan in two consecutive balls, he still played a fluent innings averting a hattrick on his first ball faced . 

 Shubman Gill along with Jurel led the team to victory.  It didn't seem like Jurel was playing his second Test.  The promising wicketkeeper-batter showed that he had come to stay for a long time in Indian cricket .  

 The target for India on the fourth day was 152 more runs.  The team's two openers, Rohit and Jaiswal were at the crease.  The two batsmen started the fourth day where they left off on the third day.  Ben Stokes may not be able to explain why he started James Anderson on a pitch where spinners get more help.  Anderson leaked runs.  Rohit and Jaiswal were batting fluently from the start.  It looked like they was batting on the first day's pitch. Rohit hit a lovely flicked six off Anderson.   Joe Root gave India the first blow.   Jaiswal returned for 37 runs while playing a big shot off Root.  But that wicket is much more Anderson's than Root's.  The way 41-year-old Anderson jumped forward and took the catch would put many young cricketers to shame.

It was Rohit himself who put India in trouble.  He was playing superbly and completed a 50 .  It didn't seem to be a problem.  Suddenly,  toTom Hartley's ball he came out of the crease and went to play.  He missed and was  stumped for 55 .  Rajat Patidar failed once again down at number four.  He returned for zero runs after playing 6 balls.  Once again Patidar's weakness against spin was revealed as he was caught down leg side .  It will be a surprise if he is seen in the first XI in the last Test.

 Ravindra Jadeja and Sarfraz Khan also did not get runs.  Jadeja(4) hit one of Bashir's full toss straight to Jonny Bairstow.  Sarfraz was caught out on the bat-pad on the very next ball.  England started smelling victory with two wickets in two balls.  But Shubman was still at the crease.  Jurel paired with him.  Together they led the team to victory by playing sensible cricket , rotating the strike and punishing the loose balls .

 On the pitch where the rest of the batters had trouble playing, Jurel batted fluently.  Not once did he seem to miss a ball.  Jurel's feet are very fast.  As a result, it does not take much time for him to go back or forward . Shubman accompanied him.  They knew there was plenty of time.  So they did not hurry.  Played in singles, doubles and slowly approaching the goal.  A few big shots came after the runs required got to below 20  .  

 England tried everything to get back into the game.  Fielders jumping to save every run.  Bowlers try everything.  But they could not return the two batters.  After a while India's victory became clear.  Two batsmen left the field winning the team by 5 wickets.  Shubaman remained unbeaten on 52 and Jurel inbeaten on  39 runs and the series was won . Jurel was the player of the match.