After losing two wickets without scoring in their second innings, India survived the rest of the day without any further damage, calmly navigating through the final two sessions.
Chasing a 311-run deficit, India’s second innings got off to a disastrous start as both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan were dismissed off consecutive deliveries in the very first over. Under immense pressure, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill managed to survive the remaining two overs before lunch. After weathering that storm, the duo gradually settled at the crease, rebuilding India’s innings and keeping alive hopes of avoiding defeat.
At the end of Day 4 of the fourth Test for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, India reached 174 for 2 in 63 overs. Rahul remained unbeaten on 87 off 210 balls with eight boundaries, while captain Gill stood solid at 78* off 167 deliveries, also with 10 fours. Their third-wicket partnership has added 174 runs off 377 balls so far.
India still trails by 137 runs, but they have eight wickets in hand.
Earlier in the day, after Joe Root’s century, Ben Stokes powered England to a mammoth 669. On Saturday morning, India bowled just three overs in the first session but lost two key wickets in that short span.
Jaiswal was caught at slip by Root off Chris Woakes, and on the very next ball, Sudharsan fell to second slip while playing hesitantly.
Gill began his fightback by denying Woakes a hat-trick, while experienced campaigner Rahul provided steady support. Together, they saw off the next two overs and then confidently navigated the remaining two sessions.
Their job is far from over, though. England, already leading the series, still holds a significant advantage. A breakthrough in this partnership could shift the game dramatically.
Earlier in the day at Old Trafford, England resumed on 544 for 7. In the fifth over of the day, Jasprit Bumrah bowled Liam Dawson with an in-swinger that shattered his off stump. Dawson added only five runs to his overnight 21.
Stokes, who started the day on 77, reached his hundred with a boundary off Mohammad Siraj. It was his first Test century in over two years—the last one coming in June 2023 at Lord’s against Australia.
His century was historic—Stokes became the first English captain to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in the same Test. He had earlier taken 5 wickets for 72 runs in India’s first innings.
Among English cricketers, only Tony Greig, Ian Botham, and Gus Atkinson had achieved this double before.
A short while later, Stokes crossed another milestone—becoming just the third cricketer in Test history to score 7,000 runs and take 200 wickets, joining West Indies great Gary Sobers and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis.
Post century, Stokes accelerated his scoring—launching a six off Washington Sundar followed by a four. He then danced down the track to Ravindra Jadeja and hit a massive six. However, on the very next ball, while trying to repeat the shot, he was caught at long-on. That ended a remarkable innings full of personal milestones.
Just an over later, Jadeja dismissed Brydon Carse to wrap up England’s innings. Jadeja finished with 4 wickets for 143. For the first time in his Test career, Bumrah conceded over 100 runs in an innings, ending with figures of 2 for 112.
Brief Scores
- India 1st Innings: 358
- England 1st Innings: (Overnight 544/7) 669 in 157.1 overs (Stokes 141, Dawson 26, Woakes 4, Carse 47, Archer 2*; Bumrah 2/112, Jadeja 4/143, Washington 2/107)
- India 2nd Innings: 174/2 in 63 overs (Jaiswal 0, Sudharsan 0, Rahul 87*, Gill 78*; Woakes 2/48)
