ENG vs IND 2025: 'Heap load of credit to them' - Ben Stokes acknowledges Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja for match-saving knocks

Ben Stokes commended the batting efforts of Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja at the end of a captivating fourth Test of the ongoing five-match series between England and India.

Notably, Sundar (101* off 206) and Jadeja (107* off 185) stitched together 203 runs for the fifth wicket to save the match for their team. 

Stokes complimented the two for their their ability to deliver despite the amount of pressure on them.

"You got to give a heap load of credit for the way that Washington and Jadeja came in and played there and they were obviously under a lot of pressure. So, to put that partnership together like they did there, I've got to give them a lot of credit. Yeah, I think all the hard work was done by India. They both (Washington and Jadeja) played incredibly well," stated Stokes during the post-match presentation.  

The wicket sort of got easier and easier to bat on: Stokes

Without taking anything away from India's batting display, the English skipper commented on how the pitch behaved differently after the left-handed pair had arrived at the middle as compared to when KL Rahul and Shubman Gill were batting. 

"I think as the game progressed, we've seen the wicket sort of got easier and easier to bat on. As the game got deeper and deeper, I mean, you look at how difficult it was for the right-handers on that wicket, particularly like this morning, the variable bounce. And then it just didn't seem like there was that inconsistency of bounce to the left-handers," he added.

Stokes' performance in the match was quite remarkable too. He secured the Player of the Match accolade for his all-round showing (5/72 in 24 overs, 141 off 198, 1/33 in 11 overs). The final contest is scheduled to commence at The Oval on Thursday, July 31.