World Test Championship points table: What victory against England in the fourth Test means for India. cricket news

Team India defeated England in the series for the first time in the ‘buzzball’ era by defeating the visiting team by 5 wickets in the fourth Test in Ranchi on Monday. The hosts, who lost the first match of the series in Hyderabad, relied on youth for the ongoing series and the decision bore fruit, with India leading the series 3-1 ahead of the final game in Dharamsala next month. Chasing 192 to win, India were going strong at 84/0, but England’s spinners troubled them on both sides at lunch on the second day. However, Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel remained unbeaten to cross the finishing line.

After lunch, England had restricted India to 120/5, but Gill (52 not out) and Jurel (39 not out) survived a difficult phase to give India victory and the series.

With this win, India consolidated its second position in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table for the 2023-25 ​​cycle. With five wins in eight matches, India’s PCT increased from 59.52 to 64.58.

New Zealand tops the WTC points table with 75 points. The Kiwis have won three of their four games in the current cycle.

Gill and Jurel’s unbeaten 72-run partnership played a crucial role after Shaob Bashir and Tom Hartley took a flurry of wickets in the quick session.

The second session saw a swing of momentum like a pendulum in favor of both the teams. Ravindra Jadeja and Shubman Gill continued to take India’s score forward but with the arrival of Shoaib Bashir, India went on the backfoot.

He dismissed Jadeja for 4 runs and dismissed Sarfaraz Khan for a golden duck on the next ball. Jurel came in and had a few nervous moments but calmed down quickly.

As England made India work hard for every run, both batsmen showed patience throughout as the equation slowly started to unravel. When 20 runs were needed, Gill opened his arms and hit two consecutive sixes to bring India closer to victory.

He raised his bat for his half-century and the crowd stood up and applauded the 24-year-old’s courageous effort.

Jurel hit a four and then a double to take India to the finishing line and clinch the series.

Gill and Jurel remained unbeaten with scores of 52 and 39 respectively. This is India’s 17th consecutive series win on home soil.

(With ANI inputs)