ENG vs IND – Fourth Test, India Tour of England 2025
England set early tone with record total
England dominated Day 1 and Day 2 with a formidable 669 all out in their only innings—England’s highest-ever Test total at Old Trafford, spearheaded by Joe Root and Ben Stokes.
Root’s 150 laid the foundation, while Stokes contributed a power-packed 141 and later claimed six wickets—a feat that joins him with cricketing greats like Sobers, Botham, and Kallis.
India’s response: resilience and resistance
India replied with 358 in their first innings, including notable knocks from Sai Sudharsan (61) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (58), before losing key wickets cheap and finding themselves trailing by over 300 later in the match.
Edge-of-the-seat drama on Day 5
On the final morning, India began their second innings in dire straits: 0/2 and trailing by 311 runs. Yet, opener Shubman Gill (103) and KL Rahul (90) stitched together a marathon 174-run stand—a key anchor for India’s fightback.
With the duo dismissed before lunch, India still needed another hero—and that’s when *Ravindra Jadeja (107 ) and *Washington Sundar (101 ) rose to deliver. The pair batted through nearly 150 overs across Day 5, refusing to yield further wickets and driving India to a dramatic 425 for 4, ensuring a draw and denying England a series‑clinching win.
Reports described the final stages as tense—India even declined Ben Stokes’ offer of a draw until Jadeja and Sundar reached their milestones, frustrating the English side.
Milestones & performances
Gill notched his fourth century of the series, pushing India’s WTC hopes forward.
Jadeja crossed a personal historic milestone: surpassing even Virat Kohli in a particular context, underlining his emergence as a premier all‑rounder.
Washington Sundar celebrated his maiden Test century, a remarkable accomplishment given the context and pressure.
Ben Stokes, awarded Player of the Match, cemented his legendary status with 141 runs and 6 wickets overall—a rare double-career landmark.
Series implications & what’s next
The result leaves the series at 2–1 in England’s favor heading to the final Test at The Oval, starting Thursday. England must avoid defeat to secure the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, while India still have a path to retain the trophy with a drawn series—keeping their hopes alive in the World Test Championship cycle.
Final thoughts
What looked like a certain England victory morphed into one of the most commendable comebacks in recent Test history. India’s lower order, against all odds, delivered a carefully crafted rescue mission. Jadeja and Sundar’s grit, Gill’s leadership, Rahul’s composure, and even the subsiding England bowling attack on a flat pitch made for a gripping narrative.
As both teams shift their gaze to the decisive 5th Test, fans are gearing up for a high-stakes finale—where England can wrap up the series or India can squatter on England’s turf and keep the trophy dreams alive.
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