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Shubman Gill (52 not out) and an unbeaten 39 Dhruv Jarel, helped India edge past England in the fourth test in Ranchi, to give them a five-wicket win over tourists India, which sees them win the series 3-1.

The series was well contested and England I feel will be kicking themselves. In each test match, they have been in the game, but they have lost the game at the worst times and the most important sessions.

The Three Lions’ second innings capitulation, prevented them from being in control of how the roller should be applied for day four. It should have been Ben Stokes and his England side deciding how to apply the roller, but ultimately it would be Rohit Sharma and India, who set the roller on the pitch in a way that would suit his bowlers.

When England needed consolidation, a capitulation would follow. Very damning words indeed admittedly, but if one looks at the Indian second innings, Gill and Jurel who are attacking players by nature, showed some respect for the match situation.

Critics would say a counter-attack would have taken the pressure off, but with England’s spinners looking menacing, India’s talented youngsters took the sting out of the game and won a close game, relatively comfortably in the end.

In different parts of this test series, the Gujarat Titans skipper had to overcome a barrage of criticism. Even though this series defeat will be initially hard to take, England can take a lot of positives.

The emergence of Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir is a massive plus, especially when it has been perceived by some there are no good spinners outside of Jack Leach in the English game.

Next up for England is a home series with Pakistan.

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