England lost the fifth and final Test match against India by an innings and 64 runs, resulting in their 4-1 series defeat. England’s series defeat against India brought their "bazball" crusade under scrutiny. After registering their win in the first game in Hyderabad, England could not get back into the series with India going on to register four consecutive victories. 

England, sporting a star-studded lineup, were bowled out for 195 in the fifth game after Indian veteran Ravichandaran Ashwin playing his 100th Test match returned with the figures of 5-77. England head coach Brandon McCullum reflecting on their defeat said they need to work things out and make sure to come out strongly. This defeat also presented a huge setback to McCullum and Stokes since it was the first under their regime. 

“When you are exposed in the way we have been here, you know that you have to get better in some areas. The next couple of months will be us working out that and making sure when we come to the summer we are a more refined version of what we are at the minute,” Brandon McCullum told The Telegraph.

“In the last two years we have done pretty well, to get from where we were to what we have got to now. We’ve discovered a lot about our side and the talent within English cricket. We’ve seen some guys who have really grown in that period of time. But we have to keep growing because there are many very skilled cricketers around the world and many very good cricket teams. If we stay where we are we’re not going to be good enough to be able to go toe-to-toe with them,” he said.

England finished their tour in India with four successive defeats, however, they competed well against India who have been unbeaten at home. In the fifth Test, England’s bowling supremo James Anderson's historic milestone of 700th Test wicket was overshadowed by the defeat.