Summary

  • Gill's composed half-century anchors India to victory

  • Hosts had slipped from 84-0 to 120-5 before Gill's intervention

  • India go 3-1 up in series

  • Final Test in Dharamsala on 7 March

  1. India hold off England fightback to win seriespublished at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Ben StokesImage source, Getty Images

    It wasn't to be for England today. They fought hard but India had enough to secure a tense five-wicket victory.

    There's now a break until 7 March until the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala.

    Stephan Shemilt's match report has all of the details of today's fascinating play.

    There's reaction from both captains below, plus analysis from our experts who will also be on the Test Match Special podcast dropping later.

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

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    Bazball, what an inspired philosophy by England. So entertaining that even today’s result (against India, in India) shouldn’t feel like defeat. This from an India fan.

    Jaspal Orpington

  3. Postpublished at 08:54 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Dhruv JurelImage source, Getty Images

    The player-of-the-match award has gone to Dhruv Jurel.

    His 90 in the first innings kept India in the game and then he combined with Shubman Gill in that match-winning stand today.

  4. Second-innings batting 'incredibly hard' - Stokespublished at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Ravichandran AshwinImage source, Getty Images

    More from England captain Ben Stokes on TNT Sports: "We've been very good in periods. Yesterday, that was incredibly hard when we were batting - in those conditions against Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep, scoring becomes very difficult. We didn't think the pitch was going to get any better and we saw that today but they bowled extremely well. It was a tough period for us.

    "You come into series, and you want to win them. I've been doing this for two years now and my message is always consistent, it's about your input to the team and don't worry too much about the output. Everyone has thrown everything into every Test match here, nothing has been left out on the field and that's all I will ever ask from them."

  5. 'A lot of challenges have been thrown at us' - Rohitpublished at 08:46 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Rohit Sharma and Shubman GillImage source, Getty Images

    India captain Rohit Sharma: "It has been a very hard-fought series. To come on the right side after four Test feels really good. I am really proud. A lot of challenges have been thrown at us but we responded pretty well.

    "Jurel showed solid composure, calmness and has the shots as well. In the second innings he showed a lot of composure and maturity.

    "It is always not pleasing when you miss your key players but there is nothing we can do as a group. Those guys are proven players and to come and fill their shoes is not easy. They responded very well to all of the situations thrown at them."

  6. 'I couldn't be more proud'published at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    England captain Ben Stokes on TNT Sports: "I think it was a great Test match. The scoreline says India win by five wickets but I don't think that gives enough credit to sum up the game as a whole.

    "There were so many ebbs and flows, and I've got to give so much credit to our spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir for how they performed not only today, but during the whole Test match. Being exposed like that, at such an early stage of their careers, it's incredible I couldn't be more proud of them in particular but also the whole team for the performances this week.

    "That's the way I am as a captain - allowing these guys to come into what could be a very intimidating situation against India in a Test match, to treat every ball as on occasion rather than thinking something in the past that can't be changed. The series has shown a lot of talent, for us and India. I love Test cricket and we've seen some young, inexperienced players perform and the future looks bright in this format."

  7. Postpublished at 08:37 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Mark Ramprakash
    Former England batter

    Another brilliant Test match and a brilliant win for India having lost an important toss. They have been led by two young players.

  8. Postpublished at 08:35 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Ben Stokes says he doesn't think the scoreline gives enough credit to a thrilling game as a whole.

    He says he couldn't be more proud of Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley for their performance today.

  9. Postpublished at 08:34 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    India batter Virat Kohli on X: "YES! Phenomenal series win by our young team. Showed grit, determination and resilience."

  10. Postpublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain

    Five world-class players missing, losing the toss, first innings deficit - that’s an incredible win for India now but also for the future of their team.

  11. Postpublished at 08:31 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Ben StokesImage source, Getty Images

    After the horrible defeat in Rajkot last week, it felt like England's whole world was crumbling. They rightly took a lot of criticism.

    This, to me at least, feels different. England fought hard throughout.

    They could, some would say should, have capitalised yesterday but a lot of credit has to go to how well Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav bowled in difficult batting conditions.

    Stay with us to hear what the captains think.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:27 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

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    The problem isn’t with our batsmen it’s with how good India’s spinners are Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep. Our young spinners bowled admirably but they simply can’t compete with such experience.

    Gus in Durham

  13. Postpublished at 08:24 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Former England captain on TNT Sports

    Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel celebrateImage source, Getty Images

    Credit to India - they withstood the pressure.

    Shubman Gill has got all the talent in the world but a knock like that in a big moment will do wonders for him going forward. He played the situation perfectly and Dhruv Jurel was very good at taking the pressure off him.

    England will be proud of how they went about it, they didn't miss any opportunities today, it was that second innings yesterday.

  14. Postpublished at 08:22 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    This match has been quite a rollercoaster. Remember England were 112-5 on day one.

    Joe Root led a brilliant recovery as his century took them to 353 and when India were 177-7 in the first innings England were right on top.

    The batting on day three is what has ultimately cost England when they were dismissed for 145.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 08:18 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

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    What’s frustrating is that this England is at its best when behind in games. When on top, it fades away. Where is the killer instinct?

    Jim. Sevenoaks

  16. Postpublished at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Mark Ramprakash
    Former England batter

    Ben StokesImage source, Getty Images

    England played their part, boosted by Joe Root's gritty century, but ultimately they were out-skilled in these conditions.

  17. Postpublished at 08:13 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain

    A great game but England will surely be looking back again at day three where they got most things wrong to allow India back into the game.

    Another 50/70 runs and it would have been England's game.

  18. Postpublished at 08:12 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    England fought so hard today with a young spin attack. They deserve a lot of credit for that.

    When Ravindra Jadeja and Sarfaraz Khan got out in consecutive balls after lunch with India still 72 runs away the unlikely looked possible.

    They just didn't have enough runs to play with.

  19. INDIA BEAT ENGLAND BY FIVE WICKETSpublished at 08:09 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February
    Breaking

    Shubman GillImage source, Getty Images

    There it is.

    India win a thrilling match and with it take the series.

  20. Postpublished at 08:09 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain

    It has been a class partnership, so much clarity but also a huge amount of skill showed by both. India win the series as they have known how to win the big moments over the course of three Tests.