England captain Ben Stokes expressed his relief regarding the swift resolution of young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed’s visa issue ahead of the third Test against India in Rajkot. Ahmed, a spinner of Pakistani descent, faced initial concerns with his single-entry visa but completed the paperwork a day before the crucial match.

Ben Stokes commended the efforts of the Indian government and the BCCI for efficiently handling Ahmed’s visa situation. He stated, “We do not have to worry anymore about those issues; we were very confident that we would get the visa for Rehan before the game started.”

ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan Urges Continued Balance In Pitches For Rajkot Test To Confuse England

Reflecting on Ahmed’s composure in handling the situation, Ben Stokes praised the young spinner, saying, “The great thing about youth is that they just take everything in their stride. Rehan, in the Test matches that he has played, has done very well, and he has solved everything that we have asked him.”

Ben Stokes, who recently recovered from knee surgery in November, showcased his bowling in training, noting that he was operating at around 70% of his maximum intensity. However, he humorously mentioned that he had ‘pinky promised’ his physiotherapist not to test his knee too rigorously.

ALSO READ: Ravindra Jadeja’s Reveals Injury Management Strategy Ahead Of Rajkot Test

Speaking about his cautious approach to recovery, Ben Stokes stated, “It’s little and often now. We don’t have a plan with where I go with my intensity. It’s just how I feel at the time, but also not getting too far ahead. It was another step forward. But I’ve pinky promised my physio I won’t be loosening up to bowl even if everything is feeling well. That would just be a risk that’s not worth it.”

As the third Test approaches, Stokes and the England team are prepared for the challenges posed by the Indian side, with the young spinner Rehan Ahmed expected to play a crucial role in the match.