According to sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), there are plans to increase the per-match fees for Test matches and provide rewards to players who participate in all Test series throughout the year.
This decision comes in light of players like Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan opting not to participate in the Ranji Trophy for their respective states despite not being part of the India squad. Both players have chosen to skip domestic cricket to focus on preparing for the 2024 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Currently, the BCCI provides Rs 15 lakh per Test match to players. Additionally, the governing body offers Rs 6 lakh for each One-Day International (ODI) and Rs 3 lakh for T20 International (T20I) matches.
Recapping the fourth Test at Ranchi, England opted to bat first after winning the toss and concluded their first innings at 353. Their innings was highlighted by a remarkable comeback century from premier batter and former skipper Joe Root, who scored an unbeaten 122 runs off 274 balls, including 10 fours. Additionally, contributions came from Ollie Robinson, who scored a half-century with 58 runs off 96 balls, and Ben Foakes, who made 47 runs off 126 balls.
Ravindra Jadeja, with figures of 4/67, and Akash Deep, who took 3/83, were the standout performers with the ball for India.
India were dismissed for 307 in their first innings in response to England’s 353. Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s contribution of 73 runs off 117 balls, which included eight fours and a six, India found themselves at 219/7. However, Jurel’s innings of 90 runs off 149 balls, featuring six fours and four sixes, coupled with Kuldeep’s 28 off 131 balls, formed a crucial 76-run partnership for the eighth wicket, guiding India past the 300-run mark.
Spinner Shoaib Bashir troubled Indian batters, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul with figures of 5/119. Additionally, Tom Hartley took 3/68, while James Anderson registered figures of 2/48, contributing to England’s bowling effort.
The lion-hearted rearguard effort by Jurel, supported by the lower order, not only lifted India from a difficult position but also narrowed England’s first-inning lead to just 46 runs.
In their second innings, England were dismissed for just 145 runs, with Zak Crawley top-scoring with 60 runs off 91 balls, including seven fours, and Jonny Bairstow contributing 30 runs off 42 balls with three fours. However, their resistance was not enough to prevent the collapse. Spinners accounted for all 10 wickets for India, with Ravichandran Ashwin leading the bowling charts with figures of 5/51, supported by Kuldeep Yadav who took 4/22.
Chasing 192 for an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, the hosts got off to a strong start with skipper Rohit Sharma scoring 55 runs off 81 balls, including five fours and a six, while Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed 37 runs off 44 balls with five fours, forming an 84-run opening partnership.
However, that changed when Bashir brought the visitors back into the game, taking 3/79 and reducing India to 120/5. Subsequently, Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 52 runs off 124 balls, including two sixes, while Dhruv Jurel contributed an unbeaten 39 runs off 77 balls with two fours, guiding India to a series-clinching victory by five wickets.
India now leads the series 3-1.
