India has secured a resounding victory in the ongoing Test series against England, winning the fourth Test in Ranchi by 5 wickets and clinching the series with an unassailable 3-1 lead. Before the series, there was much hype surrounding England's aggressive "Bazball" approach under new coach Brendon McCullum, as they had remained undefeated since his appointment.
Apart from the 'Bazball' threat, India was at sea at one point in time when they were without the services of some of their key players either because of injury or other personal engagements.
Despite all of this, the youngsters rose to the occasion and showed immense skill and grit to overcome the challenges and push India to its 17th straight series victory at home. Chasing a tricky target of 192 runs, India started well with a solid opening partnership. However, they faced a middle-order collapse, leaving them in a precarious position at 120/5.
The young duo of Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel then took center stage, displaying exceptional grit and determination in a crucial partnership. They navigated a challenging pitch and remained unbeaten for 72 runs, guiding India to a thrilling victory.
Kevin Pietersen shuts down the doubters
Gill even notched up his sixth Test fifty, including two crucial sixes towards the end, sealing the historic win for India. On the occasion of India's series victory, former England star Kevin Pietersen who is a big admirer of Gill and Virat took a sly dig on X (formerly Twitter) at all those who doubted Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli during their lean patch. Kevin Pietersen tweeted, "They doubted Shubman like they doubted Virat when he was struggling! Do not.”
They doubted Shubman like they doubted Virat when he was struggling!
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) February 26, 2024
DO NOT!!!!!!!!!!
Gill has showcased remarkable form in the Test series, notably notching up a century in the second match followed by a notable 91-run innings in the third match. Furthermore, he played a pivotal role in India's chase during the fourth Test, guiding the team with an undefeated half-century on a difficult pitch.