Jurel, Gill and spinners help India beat England in 4th Test in Ranchi as hosts clinch five-match series

Dhruv Jurel (39*) and Shubman Gill (52*) stitched an unbroken 72-run sixth-wicket stand to help India chase 192 on Day 4 of the fourth and penultimate Test versus England, at the JSCA International Stadium in Ranchi on Monday (Feb 26). The day's play started with India being 40-0 and moved to 84 for no loss before English spinners chipped in with regular breakthroughs. However, Jurel (who scored a magnificent 90 in the first innings) and Gill remained unbeaten to take India to a stunning five-wicket win. With the victory, the hosts haveclinched the five-match series withan unassailable 3-1 lead.

India started the day on a confident note with skipper Rohit Sharma (55) looking in his elements and constantly guiding his in-form partner Yashasvi Jaiswal (37). The duo added 84 for the opening stand but Joe Root, Shoaib Bashir (who took a five-fer in the first essay) and Tom Hartley made use of the turn and low bounce on offer to dent India. At 120-5, the home teamhad a job in hand but Jurel and Gill got together and resorted to smart cricket -- playing with soft hands, stepping outside the crease against the spinnersand running well between the wickets --to take India to a win.

The Ranchi Testproved to be a hard-fought battle from the word go. Opting to bat first, Ben Stokes-led England got off to a flier on Day 1 before being reduced to 112-5, thanks to debutant pacer Akash Deep's three successive strikes. Nonetheless, Joe Root's 122* helped England post 353. In reply, India were on the backfoot at stumps on Day 2, reeling at 177-7 (despite Jaiswal's 73). The next morning saw India's fightback, led by young keeper-batter Jurel who scored a brilliant 90. The 23-year-old's knock, which included a 76-run eighth-wicket stand with spinner Kuldeep Yadav (28), helped the hosts get close to England's 353 as they managed 307.

In their second innings, England were well-placed at 110-3 with Zak Crawley leading thecharge. However, R Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav tested the English batters throughout with the former taking 5 for 51 to dismiss the opposition for a paltry 145. Jurel also contributed frombehind the stumps with his proactiveness and keeping skills.England fell flat on a tricky surface -- with a tinge of low bouncethroughout -- to set up only a 192-run target. The total wasn't daunting but the visitors made India toil hard for every run before Gill and Jurel's unbeaten stand.

Notably, this was the first time when India won a contest chasing over 150 at home since early 2013 (versus Australia -- chasing 155).India have clinchedthe series 3-1 to remain unbeaten in home Tests since late 2012-13 (when Alastair Cook-led England beat them 2-1).

The fifth and final Test will commence in Dharamsala on March 7.