Ben Stokes insisted he was proud of how his England players had thrown everything at India despite a third straight loss resulting in his first series defeat since taking over as captain two years ago.
Defending 192 on the fourth day in Ranchi, hopes of setting up a potential fifth Test decider in Dharamsala next week were raised when Shoaib Bashir’s two wickets in two balls after lunch reduced the largely shotless hosts to 120 for five. But Shubman Gill, 52 not out, and Dhruv Jurel, unbeaten on 39, had ice in their veins thereafter, chiselling out a chanceless 72-run partnership and ending with a flourish to take the match by five wickets and give India an unassailable 3-1 lead with one to play.
