Watch: KL Rahul falls to Ben Stokes 'unplayable' ball – Stuart Broad explains why it was special
England captain
Ben Stokes
delivered a match-turning performance on day 5 of the fourth Test against India, dismissing
KL Rahul
for 90 runs despite bowling with visible discomfort. The crucial wicket broke India's third-wicket partnership of 188 runs and shifted the momentum in England's favor during Sunday's play.
Stokes, who had already claimed five wickets in India's first innings, was unable to bowl for the first 63 overs of India's second innings on Saturday due to fitness concerns. However, he brought himself into the attack on Sunday morning when India resumed at 174-2.
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The England all-rounder's impact was immediate as he trapped
Rahul
leg before wicket with a delivery that kept low, ending a substantial partnership that had developed after India were reduced to 0-2 early in their innings.
— englandcricket (@englandcricket)
Former England bowler
Stuart Broad
provided detailed analysis of Stokes's bowling performance on JioHotstar, highlighting the technical aspects that made him particularly effective against the Indian batters.
"I don't think India are playing Ben Stokes the man—they're playing Ben Stokes the bowler, and right now, he's bowling superbly. He's not someone they need to change their mindset for, but the fact is, he's England's most effective bowler at the moment.
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Today, he generated both low and high bounce, which makes it extremely difficult for batters to settle," Broad said.
Broad specifically emphasized the unplayable nature of the delivery that dismissed Rahul: "Take KL Rahul's dismissal for instance—there's no way you could have played that ball. From that length, with it keeping low, it was virtually unplayable. He's just in rhythm, bowling outstanding deliveries.
And you rarely see a batter walk off for an LBW without even checking—but that's exactly what happened. It speaks to how fair and convincing the decision was.
"
The former England pacer further praised Stokes's overall contribution to the match: "Stokes has had an incredible impact on this game—five wickets for a hundred, and then a key wicket this morning. He's one of those players who just rises to big moments, and today was another example."
The dismissal proved to be particularly significant as it came at a crucial juncture when India were building momentum in their second innings. Rahul and his batting partner had successfully steadied the Indian innings after the early loss of two wickets.
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Stokes's performance was made more remarkable by the fact that he was clearly struggling with physical discomfort throughout his bowling spell. Despite these limitations, he managed to maintain his effectiveness and provide a crucial breakthrough for his team.
The England captain's intervention demonstrated his ability to influence key moments in the match, having already made a substantial impact with his five-wicket haul in India's first innings. His decision to bring himself into the attack, despite not being fully fit, proved to be a tactical masterstroke.
The partnership between Gill and Rahul, which began when India were precariously placed at 0-2, had grown to 188 runs before Stokes's intervention. This wicket represented a significant shift in the match's momentum and highlighted Stokes's value as both a captain and bowler.
For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
India vs England Test match
here.
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