England's skipper Ben Stokes hailed their come-from-behind victory against India in the opening Test in Hyderabad as his "greatest" triumph as captain.
Overcoming a challenging deficit of 190 runs in the second inning, England posted a commendable total, with Ollie Pope's masterful 196 leading the charge. Setting India a target of 231, England managed to bowl out the hosts for 202 in the final over on day four, with debutant spinner Tom Hartley claiming impressive figures of 7-62.
Stokes expressed his elation, emphasising the significance of the win given the circumstances and the formidable opponent. He praised Hartley's outstanding debut performance, securing nine wickets, and highlighted Pope's crucial contribution with a big hundred. Stokes acknowledged the collective effort of the team, stating, "Everyone contributed."
India, having lost only three of their previous 46 Tests at home, faced a rare defeat, especially after taking a first-inning lead of 100 runs or more. Stokes reflected on the team's position going into the second inning and declared, "it's our greatest triumph since I have been captain."
Discussing the team's style of play, Stokes mentioned the transformation since he took over as captain in 2022, adopting an attacking 'Bazball' style alongside coach Brendon McCullum, resulting in 14 victories in 19 Tests. Despite his role being limited to a batsman due to knee surgery, Stokes contributed with a counter-attacking 70 in the first inning.
Stokes stressed the importance of staying true to their gameplan, win or lose, and maintaining the momentum they have built over the past two years. Looking ahead to the series, he expressed his desire for the team to continue performing well and give themselves the best chance for success.
The second game of the series is set to begin in Visakhapatnam on Friday, and Stokes, optimistic about the team's potential, aims for another shock win. He emphasised the importance of each player giving themselves the best opportunity to perform and maintaining the right approach regardless of the outcome.
The five-match series will also feature games in Rajkot, Ranchi, and Dharamsala, concluding in March. Stokes looks forward to the upcoming challenges and is committed to leading the team forward.
