On the third day of the second Test match between England and India in Visakhapatnam, England captain Ben Stokes produced an electrifying athletic effort as he collected a vital catch to eliminate Shreyas Iyer. India was trying to steady themselves after losing early wickets, and the match was evenly balanced. Under severe scrutiny, Shreyas Iyer looked for pardon after the first match after a modest innings of 27 runs. His departure for 29 runs off 52 balls, shattered by a few boundaries, destroyed expectations that he would make a significant impact.
His aggressive purpose backfired when he lofted the ball clumsily off the toe end of his bat, trying to take on Tom Hartley. At mid-off, the England captain had the opportunity to demonstrate his fielding prowess. He lost sight of the ball for an instant, but quickly corrected and turned to face the long-off boundary. His extraordinary comeback demonstrated his dedication to the game, particularly following major knee surgery.
Ben Stokes made a catch that looked unlikely at first, but he made a perfect dive from mid-off that was around 25 yards long. The right-handed batter’s expulsion seemed harsh, especially considering how well he was known to handle spin bowling. What made it more intriguing was that it was his first time taking on the spinner in the second inning.
This is the footage of Ben Stokes’ incredible catch:
A STUNNER FROM STOKES. 🔥🫡pic.twitter.com/7Ml2YADBEE
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 4, 2024
Ben Stokes’s degree of athleticism soars
In the pivotal stages of the first game of the series in Hyderabad, Ben Stokes’ extraordinary athleticism and fielding abilities were on full display. He dismissed Ravindra Jadeja with a brilliant direct hit in a pivotal move. His unconventional throw, which came after a precisely timed dive to stop the ball, proved to be essential in shifting the game’s momentum. In addition to demonstrating his skill, the England all-rounder’s contribution reinforced the importance of quickness and precision in the field.
Returning to the second Test, Iyer’s removal stopped India’s progress at the same moment that a developing alliance put England’s determination in jeopardy. England’s position was further strengthened when Rehan Ahmed removed debutant Rajat Patidar. Prior to lunch, India’s score was 273 runs ahead of the opposition at 130-4 after 35 overs. With every delivery, the visitors’ luck fluctuated and the game remained reasonably engaging.
India
