England started their five-Test tour of India with a 28-run victory in Hyderabad. However, they failed to build on it and lost the next three matches in Vizag, Rajkot and Ranchi to concede the series.
While the Three Lions were somewhat competitive in the second, third and fourth Tests, they were totally outplayed in the series finale in Dharamsala.
On Saturday (March 9), England suffered an innings and 28-run defeat at the hands of India in the fifth and final Test to lose the series 4-1.
Amid the poor display in Dharamsala Test, former skipper Alastair Cook came in defence of the Ben Stokes-led side.
Cook sympathized with England's struggling players, saying that they are “not robots” and staying away from home for months takes a toll.
“We are sitting here away from the emotions of the game. We are sitting here at home watching the telly. I am not defending England, but they have been away for getting on eight weeks. It’s a tough tour; they’re not robots,” Cook said while speaking on TNT Sports.
Alastair Cook’s comments, however, wasn’t well received by the Australian cricket legend Mark Waugh, who stated that international cricketers train for such tours and get paid for it.
Replying to Cook's comments on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Waugh wrote: “I can’t believe I’m hearing this from Alastair Cook. As a international cricketer this is what you train for and get paid for. This is a one of the best tours as a international cricketer you can go on.”
Coming to the Dharamsala Test, England’s first innings folded for 218 after they won the toss and opted to bat first. Zak Crawley was the top scorer with 79.
In reply, India rode on centuries from Shubman Gill (110) and skipper Rohit Sharma (103) to post 477 on the board, securing a massive lead of 259 runs.
In the second innings, England’s batting line-up collapsed once again as they were bowled out for 195. Joe Root waged a lone battle with the bat, scoring 84.
India’s spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and R Ashwin starred with the ball. While Kuldeep picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings, Ashwin returned with five scalps in the second essay.
