England captain Ben Stokes didn’t bowl on Day 4 of the fourth Test against India. After scoring a hundred in his team’s first innings, the all-rounder didn’t roll his arm over, which impacted the hosts. Harsha Bhogle opened up on his absence as a bowler after England failed to break a partnership between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan failed to open their accounts, with Chris Woakes dismissing them in one over.

The English team was thinking of winning the game, but Gill and Rahul have been magnificent with the bat. England would need Stokes on Day 5 to trouble the Indian batters.

“Ben Stokes is not bowling because of the time he spent in the middle. His 141 runs have taken a toll on him, and this is the reason behind his absence as a bowler. England didn’t look threatening without Stokes,” he said.

“Hamstring, groin injuries. He has done everything. He would want bowlers to take wickets for him on Day 5. He has bowled the most overs in the series,” he added.

Ben Stokes has taken 16 wickets, the most in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He was named the Player of the Match in the third Test at Lord’s.