Ben Stokes reacts angrily to ‘ruthlessness’ question after losing a game, delivers sharp response.

India clinched a decisive 3-1 lead in the five-match series by defeating England in the fourth and penultimate Test by five wickets. England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ strategy faced heavy criticism for its rigidity and lack of depth. Ben Stokes, after taking over the captaincy from Joe Root, expressed bewilderment at the notion of ruthlessness, deeming it subjective and often misunderstood.

He emphasized the team’s intention to play in the best way possible to secure victories. Stokes acknowledged the challenging conditions posed by India’s Ashwin, Jadeja, and Kuldeep, and praised the opposition’s bowling prowess. He also commended England’s young spin duo, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, for their performance in the series.

Stokes found the test pitches to be of high quality, despite being surprised by their behavior in the hot temperatures. He accepted the challenging spin conditions in India as part of the game. Finally, Stokes mentioned experiencing tightness in his quadriceps muscle but assured that it was not a major concern, preventing him from bowling in the game.