⁠⁠India vs England: Ben Stokes Bowling Return Cannot Prevent Hosts Building Huge Lead

Ben Stokes took a wicket with his first competitive delivery for eight months but could not prevent England sliding towards defeat by India on the second day of the fifth Test in Dharamsala.

Captain Stokes, bowling for the first time since July after surgery on his left knee, came on in the second over after lunch and immediately disturbed opposite number Rohit Sharma’s off stump.

By then, Rohit and Shubman Gill had a gone long way towards batting England out of the game, each making centuries as India piled on the runs in the morning session.

Rohit, who was dropped by Zak Crawley, made 103 and Gill 110 in a second-wicket partnership of 171.

Sarfaraz Khan and debutant Devdutt Padikkal both made half-centuries to push India’s lead towards 200, but England fought back well in the evening session.

Spinners Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley engineered an India slump of five wickets for 52 runs before Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah took the hosts to 473 for 8, leading by 255.

It is a prime position from which India can earn a huge victory and end the series as 4-1 winners.