England has much to play for in final Test
James Anderson could join the 700 club, while Bairstow fights for career Having already lost the series 3-1, England will try to salvage some pride in the final Test
2007: Bronze (Singles), Bronze (Doubles)
2009: Gold (Singles)
2013: Gold (Doubles)
2015: Gold (Singles), Silver (Doubles) 2017: Bronze (Singles)
2019: Gold (Singles), Gold (Doubles) 2022: Gold (Singles), Silver (Doubles) 2024: Gold (Singles), Bronze (Doubles), Bronze (Mixed Doubles)
“He helped me financially, in every way he could to make sure I stayed on track. He told me, please come back and play, you will definitely do well and get the recognition you deserve, but right now just grind it out.”
Whether it was a prophecy or fervent hope, para sports in India did turn a corner in 2016. Having won a total of three medals in the first four Paralympics in the 21st Century, India claimed four at the 2016 Rio Games. Two of them gold. In 2021 at the Tokyo Games, they exceeded expectations, and their total tally of the previous Games, to win 19 medals. From 43rd on the medal charts, India had scooted to No. 24 in one Olympic cycle. All they needed was support and faith.
“Our mind is our biggest weapon,” says Bhagat. “When people talk about mental strength, being a para athlete we have to build that right from the beginning.” Surmounting problems in everyday India had taught them lessons before the sports field could. They were always swarmed with doubts, from the inside and the out. Why sport? Will they be able to do it? Will they find acceptance? “These small things go a long way in strengthening the mind.”
Given the opportunity, and the platform, they have dazzled on the world stage. Indians have been ranked No. 1, created world records, won multiple medals. At last year’s Asian Games, India finished with a best-ever tally of 111 medals. At the 2024 Paris Games, India has already secured 34 qualification/quota places. While a lot of Indian players, like Bhagat, are a certainty for the Games, the Race to Paris Paralympics Rankings list will be officially published on 31 March.
For Bhagat, who will be chasing his second successive gold in Paris, one of the biggest achievements has been winning a world championship title 15 years after his first. In Pattaya, Bhagat had entered three events—singles, doubles, mixed doubles—while his opponent in the final, the left-handed Bethell, was just focusing on singles. Despite a hectic schedule, and a draining semi-final against fellow Indian Manoj Sarkar, Bhagat triumphed in a marathon match over an opponent seven years his junior. Though the Indian was outfoxed by Bethell in the opening game, he problem-solved his way to victory.
“My experience helped,” he says. “This is my first win against him a while. I had to prepare myself physically and mentally for it. The milestone, of five world championships, was in sight. Like always, I went in thinking, ‘I am the best’, and that helped me keep the doubts away. I think even if the match had lasted longer, I would have survived.”
Struggling England batsman Jonny Bairstow looks to be fighting to save his Test career when the fifth and final match against India begins in Dharamsala on Thursday. Bairstow will win his 100th cap as England, who have already lost the series 3-1, try to salvage some pride in the high-altitude and chilly Himalayan hill town.
India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is also in line to play his 100th Test, having already passed the milestone of 500 Test wickets during the series. Former wicketkeeper Bairstow is in the side as a specialist batsman after Ben Foakes took over behind the stumps, but he has scored just 170 runs at an average of 21.25 during the series.
The 34-year-old has struggled since returning to the side last year after breaking his leg in a freak golfing accident. He has played 10 Tests since recovering, but has not scored a century and has a highest of only 38 in eight innings in India.
“It’s a great triumph of resilience and even in terms of sentiment I believe that if you get to 99 caps you deserve the moment of your 100th,” former England captain Michael Vaughan wrote in his column for the UK’s Telegraph newspaper. However, you can’t escape that he could miss out on his 101st. He hasn’t played well enough across the 10 Tests he’s been back in the side, especially in India.”
Bairstow is renowned as an attacking batsman and at number five in the order is crucial to England’s aggressive “Bazball” style of cricket. Bairstow showed glimpses of a return to form in the fourth Test but could not convert good starts, where he reached 38 and 30 in each innings respectively, into substantial scores.
Veteran seamer James Anderson, 41, is just two wickets away from 700 and becoming the third bowler, after Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and late Australian spin legend Shane Warne (708), to achieve the milestone. England could make changes to their side, with fast bowler Ollie Robinson’s place in jeopardy after going wicketless in Ranchi.
The weather in Dharamsala could play a huge part in the match. The picturesque ground is surrounded by snow-capped peaks at an altitude of 1,317 metres (4,320 feet). There is a risk of sleet and forecasts say temperatures could plunge as low as 1C (33.8 Fahrenheit) on Thursday.
India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will return after being rested but the focus will be on Ashwin, 37, who made his debut in 2011. Ashwin has 507 Test victims, second only to Anil Kumble’s 619 wickets on India’s all-time list.
India won in Ranchi by five wickets and have not lost a home series since 2012, when Alastair Cook’s England won 2-1. India have unearthed new talent in the series, such as Dhruv Jurel and Sarfaraz Khan, in the absence of Virat Kohli and the injured K.L. Rahul.