'Everyone's Got a Perception': Ben Stokes Calls for English Rally After India Take Series Lead With Rajkot Decimation

Team India inched ahead 2-1 in the ongoing five-match Test series against England on Sunday with a massive 434-run win at Rajkot. Young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s unbeaten double-century paved the way for an incredible Indian win which turned out to be their biggest win by run margin.

Indian captain Rohit Sharama scored a brilliant 131 runs in the first innings to set the tone and was ably supported by Ravindra Jadeja, who made 112 runs for the cause. The hosts wrapped up the English first innings for 319 runs which included a Ben Duckett ton, before Jaiswal’s masterclass 214 followed by Jadeja’s five-wicket haul to bundle out England for 122 to seal the win.

England skipper Ben Stokes lauded the efforts of Ben Duckett, who made a ton in the first innings, which ultimately went in vain. However, the English captain pointed to his teammate’s innings as a blueprint for what they wanted to establish in the fixture.

“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,” the 32-year-old said.

Stokes added that game plans do not always go one’s way and that it was the case in this particular defeat.

“We wanted to bowl yesterday but it was earlier than when we wanted. Sometimes gameplans don’t work and that was the case.”

He added that he wasn’t swayed by the criticism of the team swirling outside the camp and that the unit believed in its strength.

“Everyone’s got a perception and opinion about things, the people in the dressing room is what matters to us,” Stokes expressed.

Stokes cited the current circumstances and called on his side to mount a comeback with two games at Ranchi and Dharamshala still remaining in the series.

“1-2 down in the series and a great opportunity for us to come back and win the series. 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,” he concluded.

The series heads to the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi for the fourth fixture of the tour and is scheduled to begin on the 23rd of February.