On this day in 2024, India achieved a remarkable five-wicket victory against England in the fourth Test held in Ranchi, thereby establishing an unassailable 3-1 advantage in the five-match series.

After winning the toss, England chose to bat first on a pitch that exhibited variable bounce. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett set a solid foundation, with Crawley contributing 42 runs. The cornerstone of England's innings was Joe Root, who delivered an impressive unbeaten 122 runs from 274 balls. His century propelled England to a first-innings total of 353. Additionally, Ollie Robinson (58) and Ben Foakes (47) made notable contributions with the bat. For India, Ravindra Jadeja recorded figures of 4 for 67, while Akash Deep secured three wickets.

India's response

India's innings encountered difficulties early on, as England's bowlers took advantage of the pitch's irregularities. The home team found themselves in a precarious position at 177 for 7, primarily due to the outstanding performance of 20-year-old offspinner Shoaib Bashir, who was participating in only his second Test match. Bashir's exceptional five-wicket haul (5 for 119) placed India in a challenging situation. Nevertheless, a determined partnership between 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Dhruv Jurel and spinner Kuldeep Yadav shifted the momentum. Jurel contributed a crucial 90 runs, while Kuldeep added a significant 28 runs. Their collaboration reduced the deficit, allowing India to finish their first innings at 307, trailing by 46 runs.

With a modest lead in hand, England sought to establish a formidable target for the home side. Zak Crawley once again delivered a strong start, scoring 60 runs. However, India's spin duo, Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav, had different intentions. Ashwin's spin bowling resulted in figures of 5 for 51, while Kuldeep supported with 4 for 22. England struggled against the spin onslaught and were dismissed for a mere 145 runs, setting India a target of 192 runs for victory.

Young guns shine

Chasing a target of 192 on a challenging surface proved to be quite difficult. The opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal set a solid foundation, with the Indian captain finishing day three not out on 24 and Jaiswal on 16, leading India to a score of 40 without loss. However, the fourth day witnessed a dramatic downturn, as India lost five wickets for a mere 36 runs. With the match in a precarious position, Dhruv Jurel stepped up once more. Partnering with Shubman Gill, who remained not out on 52, Jurel contributed to an unbroken partnership of 72 runs. His composed innings of 39 not out played a crucial role in guiding India to victory, thereby clinching the series.

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