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The second Test between India and England in Vizag proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions for cricket fans. Day 4 witnessed some breathtaking moments, with the highlight being Shreyas Iyer‘s brilliant run-out of England skipper Ben Stokes. The competitive spirit of the game reached its peak as Iyer mimicked Stokes’ iconic finger celebration in retaliation, creating a viral sensation that captivated fans worldwide.
India’s exceptional bowling and fielding performance
Resuming their innings at a score of 67/1 in pursuit of 332 runs, England faced setbacks throughout the day, thanks to India’s exceptional bowling and fielding. Despite Zak Crawley‘s promising fifty, Kuldeep Yadav dismissed him, adding to England’s woes. However, the real threat persisted in the form of Stokes. Nevertheless, it was Shreyas who stood up to the task and turned the tide in India’s favour with a brilliant direct hit that sent Stokes packing.
Iyer’s direct hit and revengeful celebration
It all happened when Ravichandran Ashwin delivered a fuller delivery on the middle stump to Ben Foakes, resulting in a thick inside edge that went towards square leg. A moment of hesitation between Foakes and Stokes during their run led to Iyer’s quick reaction. Charging towards the ball from mid-wicket, Iyer executed a one-handed throw to the stumps with precision, catching Stokes just short.
What added to the drama was Iyer’s revengeful celebration, mimicking Stokes’ finger celebration that the English skipper did after getting him out during India’s second innings. It was a bold move, giving Stokes a taste of his own medicine and injecting an extra layer of intensity into the game.
Here’s the video:
What a throw by shreyas Iyer 🤯#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/hR3ecZEzm8
— Virat Kohli Fan Army (@ajeetyadav018) February 5, 2024
Also WATCH: DRS brilliance from Rohit Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav results in Zak Crawley’s dismissal
🎯 Shreyas goes 𝘚𝘪𝘪𝘶𝘶𝘶 with a stunning direct hit to get rid of the dangerous Stokes 🥶#BazBowled #IDFCFirstBankTestsSeries #JioCinemaSports#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/SNrchCWtsF
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 5, 2024
The domino effect
Stokes’ dismissal proved to be a turning point for England, as their batting lineup struggled to cope. Despite the resilience shown by Foakes (36) and Tom Hartley (36), wickets kept falling, and the game eventually slipped away from England’s grasp with India emerging victorious by 106 runs.