IND vs ENG, 4th Test: Dhruv Jurel, Shubman Gill guide India to series win after middle-order collapse

Dhruv Jurel, 23, was awarded the Player of the Match, in the IND vs Eng, fourth Test, for scoring 90 in the first innings and the unbeaten 39 in the second. (Photo via X)

Dhruv Jurel (39*) continued his golden touch to stitch a 72-run partnership with Shubman Gill (52*) to guide India to series victory in the fourth Test against England in Ranchi on Monday.

Under pressure after losing five wickets for 36 runs, Gill and Jurel held their nerves and rotated the strike. Gill registered his sixth Test fifty as India beat the tourists by five wickets.

Chasing 192 for victory, Rohit Sharma (55) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (37) added 44 more runs from the overnight score: 40/0.

The Shoaib Bashir show

The English spinners were all over the Indians in no time. Jaiswal found an outside edge off a Joe Root delivery, caught by James Anderson at short third. The loss of momentum infuriated Rohit, who was dragged out of the crease by left-arm spinner Tom Hartley. Ben Foakes dislodged the stumps in a flash.

Rajat Patidar's poor run continued as he lasted only six deliveries for his second duck of the series. Ollie Pope caught the batter at backward short leg off Shoaib Bashir, who was on a hat-trick after sending Ravindra Jadeja and Sarfaraz Khan back in consecutive deliveries. Sarfaraz's dismissal was similar to Patidar as Pope completed his second catch. Jadeja flicked one to Jonny Bairstow at midwicket.

The relaxed young guns

Gill did not hit a single boundary for 119 balls. He stood like a rock with wickets tumbling at the other end. At one point, India were 120/5.

Gill smashed two sixes off Bashir once closer to the target. Jurel hit only two fours and dealt with singles.

Jurel won hearts with his composure and maturity. The 23-year-old was awarded the Player of the Match for scoring 90 in the first innings and the unbeaten 39 in the second.

Behind the wicket, he took three catches and kept to Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep like a seasoned professional."You have to play the situation. In the first innings, my mindset was to score runs. One should credit the lower-order batters who stitched partnerships with me. Today, Gill and I were talking about short-term targets," Jurel told the broadcasters at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Captain Rohit was all praise for the youngsters. "It is a big challenge to play Test cricket. When I talk to them, the response from them is encouraging. We have to give them the environment they want to be in," he said.

The fifth Test starts in Dharamsala on March 7.