Author: Akshay Published Date: 27 July 2025
From Collapse to Courage: India’s Remarkable Fightback
Day 4 at Old Trafford was a tale of two extremes. England dominated early, piling up a mammoth 669—their fifth-highest Test total at the venue—thanks to Ben Stokes’ heroic 141. But by stumps, India’s defiance stole the spotlight, with Shubman Gill (78) and KL Rahul (87) stitching an unbeaten 174-run stand to keep the visitors alive.
With India at 174/2, still trailing by 137, the match hangs in the balance. Can they survive Day 5 and force a draw?
Morning Session: England’s Domination
🏏 Stokes’ Masterclass
- 141 runs – His first Test century in two years.
- 7,000+ Test runs – Joins an elite club.
- Historic double – First England captain with a century & five-wicket haul in the same Test (joining legends like Imran Khan).
🏴 England’s 669 – Their highest score of the series, setting India a 311-run deficit.
🇮🇳 India’s 1st Innings Collapse (358 all out)
- Chris Woakes (3/64) and Jofra Archer (2/72) ripped through the tail.
- Fielding lapses cost India dearly.
Post-Lunch: India’s Horror Start (0/2 in 1st Over!)
😱 Nightmare Beginnings
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – Golden duck, edging Woakes.
- Sai Sudharsan – First-ball dismissal, trapped LBW.
- India 0/2 – Worst possible start.
The Great Escape: Gill & Rahul’s Grit
🔥 174-Run Unbroken Stand – One of India’s best rearguard efforts in recent memory.
Shubman Gill (78*)
- Surpassed Kohli’s record – Most runs by an Indian captain in an England Test series.
- First Asian batter to cross 650 runs in a single England series.
- Dropped on 46 (Liam Dawson’s costly miss).
KL Rahul (87*)
- Rock-solid defence, soaked up 210 balls.
- It was a key anchor role, ensuring no further wickets fell.
🏏 India 174/2 at Stumps – Trail by 137.
England’s Missed Chances
❌ Dropped catches (Gill’s reprieve).
❌ Stokes didn’t bowl – Managing workload after his marathon efforts.
❌ Lack of penetration – England couldn’t break through despite Woakes & Archer’s early strikes.
Day 5: What’s at Stake?
🌧 Rain Threat – Forecast could aid India’s survival hopes.
🎯 England’s Target – Need 8 wickets quickly to seal the series.
🛡 India’s Goal – Bat out 2+ sessions to force a draw.
Key Battles to Watch:
- Gill vs Archer– Can the Archer break India’s resistance?
- Rahul’s patience – Will he reach a deserved century?
- Stokes’ fitness – If he bowls, will he be effective?
✅ India – Have the momentum, but need to survive early swing.
✅ England – Still favorites, but rain & fatigue could play spoiler.