IND vs ENG: Will Ben Stokes return to bowling in boost for England in Ranchi Test against India?

England captain Ben Stokes has been a reluctant bowler over the last two years, owing to injury concerns. Post the 2023 ODI World Cup, Stokes went for a knee surgery for a longstanding injury which could eventually ease him back to bowling.

However, the 32-year-old has not bowled since the Ashes in mid-2023, playing the World Cup and subsequent matches as a specialist batter. Following the 434-run hammering in the third Test in Rajkot against India, Stokes expressed a possible return to his bowling duties – a key element of his all-round skills in Test cricket.

Stokes is three scalps short of joining an elite list with Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis as the only men to achieve the Test double of 6000 runs and 200 wickets. Stokes has picked up 39 Test wickets against India, 13 of which have come in as many innings in Indian conditions.

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England has been hampered by the lack of experience of their spin department, run by left-arm spinner Tom Hartley, off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, and leggie Rehan Ahmed. Star batter Joe Root has also chipped in with his off-breaks for seven wickets. In a further blow, lead spinner Jack Leach was ruled out of the series due to an injury. England opted for a solitary pacer in the first two Tests before combining James Anderson and Mark Wood for the third Test.

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If Stokes is fit to roll his arm over, England could enjoy some variety and depth in their attack. Stokes has been bowling in the nets on the tour but the chances of him resuming duties in full tilt could ultimately boil down to the conditions in the next two Tests, in Ranchi and Dharamsala, respectively.

In a strand of positivity after the third Test, Stokes said: “I had my first bowl (in the nets) at 100 per cent. As a ­person, I like to jump the gun a ­little bit too much. I have to get my whole body to get used to bowling. So I am not saying no, but I am not ­saying yes, either.”

India and England will play the fourth Test in Ranchi from Friday.

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