Despite England’s series defeat, former captain Michael Vaughan hailed the team’s intent against India and also showered praise on the emerging spinner Shoaib Bashir.
Bashir, who made his Test debut in the Vizag Test, grabbed four wickets in that match.
Although he was omitted from the Rajkot Test, the off-spinner made a resounding comeback in the fourth Test at Ranchi, boasting impressive figures of 5/119 and 3/79.
India vs England 4th Test: India beat England, secure 17th straight Test series win at home
In just two matches, Bashir has already claimed a tally of 12 wickets. Vaughan hailed him as a new star for England, likening him to a ‘new’ Ashwin.
“It’s been a fantastic week for English cricket. One of the great weeks, celebrating another world-class superstar that we’ve unearthed, Shoaib Bashir. That’s what we’re celebrating. Second Test match, eight wickets, he’s the new Ravi Ashwin, and we’ve unearthed him. So, we’re celebrating a new superstar in English cricket,” Vaughan told Club Prairie Fire’s YouTube channel.
“I think it’s going to be a fresh one in Dharamsala, so I expect England to win. They’ve been the better team in the series, as they were in the Ashes. If you go session by session, England have looked a better team. I’m saying looked a better team, but we don’t play series now to win them,” Vaughan added.
India will face England in the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala starting March 7.