I lost 5kg in a week: Ben Stokes reveals England players suffered weight loss on India tour

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has revealed that he along with few other teammates had sudden weight loss during the fourth and final Test against India after a stomach illness. 

“Players are totally committed to England and I think that was emphasised last week when a few of us went down with illness that made operating in 41 degree heat particularly taxing,” Stokes was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.

“I lost 5kg in a week, Dom Sibley 4kg and Jimmy Anderson 3kg among others. Jack Leach was ducking off the field in between bowling spells and spending more time than is ideal in the toilet,” he added. 

The visitors suffered a 1-3 defeat in the four-match Test series against India. The home side thumped England by an innings and 25 runs in Ahmedabad to seal the series and march into the WTC finals. Stokes though praised the Indian team but also added that the English players too put in a lot of effort. 

“This is in no way an excuse, because everyone was ready to play, and India and Rishabh Pant especially produced a terrific performance, but I take off my hat to the effort that was put in by players who gave everything they had to try and win for England,” Stokes said.

Talking about the performance of the side, Stokes suggested that this as the first tour to India for some players and this series will prove to be “steep learning curve” for them. 

“For a lot of guys this was their first tour of India and it has been a steep learning curve, but that is part and parcel of being a cricketer at this level. The next test is how you react to those moments,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want any player, especially a young lad like Ollie Pope, Zak Crawley or Dom Sibley, leaving this tour and thinking they are not good enough to be here. They most definitely are.”

While England were knocked out of the WTC final after losing the third Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium, India rode on the emphatic win in the fourth Test to go into the title clash. The WTC final will be played in Southampton between India and New Zealand in June.