Ben Stokes Reflects on Shoaib Bashir's Stellar Performance Amid Injury Setback

A Star-Studded Moment for England

In a thrilling match at Lord's, England's captain Ben Stokes expressed that the final wicket taken by their young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir felt like it was 'written in the stars.' Following England's hard-fought 22-run victory in the third Test against India, Stokes confirmed that Bashir would miss the remaining two Tests due to injury.

During the third day's play, Bashir was hit on his left hand by a low shot from Ravindra Jadeja while attempting a caught-and-bowled. He quickly signaled for medical assistance and left the field for treatment. Reports from Sky Sports indicate that he is scheduled for surgery later this week.

Despite the injury to his non-bowling hand, Bashir returned to bat in the final session of day four, contributing seven runs alongside Jofra Archer, which helped England reach a total of 192.

Bashir spent most of the final day on the sidelines but returned to bowl in the closing moments of the match. He delivered a stunning ball that deceived Mohammed Siraj, sending the Indian bowler back to the pavilion in disbelief.

As Bashir celebrated his wicket, his teammates lifted him in joy, marking a significant moment as England took a 2-1 lead in the series. Stokes remarked on the significance of the moment, stating, 'It was written in the stars that it was the one to come and take it.'

In the post-match press conference, Stokes highlighted the impact of Bashir's injury on the team, praising his bravery. 'It's disappointing for us as a team and for him. The courage he showed to bat at the end was commendable,' he noted. 'His willingness to wait for his moment to bowl shows how much it means to everyone to wear the shirt, and not even injuries can deter that spirit.'