• England's Ben Stokes revealed his aspirations for Ashes 2025-26 after tough loss in the Oval Test.

  • England finished the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Test series against India at 2-2.

ENG vs IND: England skipper Ben Stokes reveals his Ashes 2025-26 ambitions after Oval Test heartbreak against India
Ben Stokes reveals his Ashes ambitions (Image Source: X)

England suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the Oval, edged out by India by just 6 runs in a dramatic series-turnaround. The loss left the English camp in agony, with the five-match series ending in a 2-2 tie. Amidst the disappointment, England skipper Ben Stokes, one of the series’ standout performers, has already shifted his focus, sharing his ambitions for the upcoming Ashes series later this year.

Ben Stokes eyes The Ashes after Oval heartbreak

Meanwhile, in the press conference, Stokes, who couldn’t play the decider game against India at the Oval, said he was bitterly disappointed and admitted it’s always tough not to be out there. However, he expressed pride in the fight his team showed and acknowledged that such games can go either way. Reflecting on the series performance, he added that he’s looking forward to heading to Australia and achieving their goals there.

“Bitterly disappointed t’s always tough not to be out there. But I’m so proud of the fight the boys showed. These games go. The way in which we’ve been able to perform throughout the series, I’m looking forward to getting to Australia and doing what we want to go out there and do.” Stokes said.

Also READ: Herschelle Gibbs mocks ICC Chairman Jay Shah after India’s thrilling 6-run win over England at The Oval

Stokes applauds pacers fight in final Test against India

Stokes further noted that when one of their bowlers went down early in the game, it changed the role of the remaining seamers. He praised the heart and desire the team showed in the second innings and reflected on the many “what-ifs” over the five days, which he said is what makes the game special. He added that all he and coach Brendon McCullum had asked from the players was to give their all something Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, and Jamie Overton certainly did.

“When one of your bowlers goes down so early in the game, the role of the other seamers changes, Even in the second innings, the heart and desire they showed was amazing. There were many what-ifs in the last five days, makes the game great, but all Brendon and I asked was to give it everything. Tongue, Atkinson and Overton showed it,” Stokes concluded.

Also READ: ENG vs IND: Ben Stokes showers special praise on Mohammed Siraj after match-winning performance in Oval Test

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About the Author:
Varun Verma is a dedicated cricket enthusiast with a flair for storytelling and in-depth analysis. Combining a deep knowledge of the sport with a talent for engaging content creation, he brings the drama and thrill of the game to life for fans around the world. Drawing inspiration from the grit and passion of players like Ben Stokes, Varun aspires to one day experience the electrifying atmosphere of a Test match at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. He can be reached at varun.verma@crickettimes.com and followed on LinkedIn and X.