Ben Stokes came under pressure as India were praised for “overachieving” in challenging English conditions after the 2-2 series draw.
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Ben Stokes: India’s Resilient Fightback Secures Thrilling Series Draw at The Oval

Ben Stokes: Team India delivered an emphatic performance in the fifth and final Test at The Oval to draw the series 2-2 against England. Despite being under pressure for much of England’s 374-run chase, the Indian bowling attack—led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna—mounted a solid comeback, clinching a narrow six-run victory and helping India avoid a series defeat.
The series was a gripping contest from start to finish, with both teams showcasing high-quality cricket. India frequently found themselves in commanding positions across all five matches, despite the narrative heavily favoring England before the series began. The recent retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma just weeks before the tour were widely seen as a major setback, and few expected a Shubman Gill-led side to challenge England so effectively on their home turf.
Yet the young Indian squad defied expectations, often outplaying England in crucial moments. Though the series ended in a draw, India’s batting dominated, spearheaded by captain Gill, who amassed 754 runs in 10 innings, setting a strong tone for the team.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke expressed admiration for India’s performance and said he would have been “disappointed” if he were in Ben Stokes’ position. “This England team… I think, a 2-2 draw in your own backyard, if I’m captain of that team, I’m disappointed with that result. I want to win, especially in my own conditions. I think they would’ve come into the series expecting to win,” Clarke remarked.
India “overachieved”

The prolific former Australian batter Michael Clarke further stated that India should view the drawn series as a “win,” emphasizing that Shubman Gill’s side has genuinely “overachieved” in challenging English conditions.
“I’m not taking India lightly, but I think they’ve overachieved, particularly considering the lead-up to the series. If India had lost, people would’ve respected and understood that—new captain, two of their most senior players missing from Test cricket, and their best bowler playing only three of the five matches. England would’ve gone into the series expecting to win. India have overperformed. To level the series 2-2, that’s definitely a win for India in my opinion,” Clarke said.