Follow UsAfter England had wrapped up India for 445, it was a show of the highest order with the bat from Ben Duckett. The left-handed batter started aggressively and kept going with a range of sweeps in the square, getting boundaries with relative ease.
Despite very little contribution from the other end, it was a one-way show from Duckett, who ended up scoring a scintillating century in Rajkot off 88 balls, the third fastest for an overseas batter in India. The left-hander scored his runs at a strike-rate of 101.32, with 23 fours and two sixes, swatting everything that came his way.
“Ben Duckett played an unbelievable innings. That was the tone we wanted to set throughout the innings. It was about identifying that opportunity and getting as close to India's total. We wanted to bowl yesterday but it was earlier than when we wanted,” Stokes said in the post-match presentation.
Even when Joe Root lost his shape, and lost his wicket, England were relatively at a comfortable position on 224/3, with Jonny Bairstow and Duckett. But the non-existent middle-order played to the hands of the Indian team, a phase that Stokes regretted post the 434-run loss.
“Sometimes gameplans don't work and that was the case. Everyone's got a perception and opinion about things, the people in the dressing room is what matters to us. 1-2 down in the series and a great opportunity for us to come back and win the series,” Stokes said.
With the series 2-1 in India’s favour, the wagon now moves to Ranchi, a place notoriously known for producing rage-turners. But Stokes was adamant that the team would make a comeback and win the last two games.
“We leave this game behind and we know we have to win the next 2 games to win the series and that's what we'll look to do.”
Ravindra Jadeja was deemed the Player of the Match at home for scoring a century in the first innings, which took the game away from the visitors. Come the second innings, the left-arm spinner made life hell for the visiting batting unit, who succumbed to just 122.
“I was just looking to build partnerships with Rohit, we were in a difficult situation, look to back my strengths, play my shots, not try and be more conscious. Watch the ball and play the ball,” Jadeja said in the post-match presentation.
“I know about this wicket, if we bat first, it is always good to bat on, in the second half it starts spinning, when Rohit won the toss, we were thinking: this is all what we wanted, bat first bowl second. On this wicket you won't get easy wickets, you have to work hard for it. You need to throw balls in good areas, you have to earn your wickets.”