London,Ā July 15;Ā Following England’s dramatic 22-run victory over India in the third Test, captain Ben Stokes revealed he pushed himself to “some pretty dark places” to secure the win, a role he now deeply cherishes. His exceptional all-round performance, including five wickets, crucial runs, and a vital run-out, earned him the Player of the Match award.Stokes was instrumental in England’s triumph, scalping five wickets across both innings (three in India’s second) and contributing scores of 44 and 33 with the bat. His direct hit to run out Rishabh Pant in India’s first innings was a pivotal moment.
When asked about the immense effort required, Stokes stated, “Iāve taken myself to some pretty dark places, but if bowling your country to a Test match win doesnāt get you excited, I donāt know what does.”
His commitment was evident on the final day, where despite physical strain, he delivered extended bowling spells of nine and ten overs both before and after lunch. “The game was on the line, nothing was stopping me,” Stokes affirmed. “Iām an all-rounder, I get four opportunities to influence the game, and if one thing doesnāt click, Iād like to score more runs, but you donāt have a chance to worry about anything.”
Stokes also praised young spinner Shoaib Bashir, who, despite a fractured finger, took the final Indian wicket to seal the victory. “Bashir, it was written in the stars to take that last wicket. An absolute warrior,” he commented.
Recalling the critical run-out of Rishabh Pant, who was batting dangerously at 74 off 112 balls, Stokes described the moment with intensity. “It was in the middle of the spell, so I was pretty pumped up. Important position at extra cover, and in my peripheral I saw Rishabh stutter. One of the great feelings, when you let go off the ball and know itās going to hit the stumps.ā