Manchester, 24 July (Sports Desk)
The 4th Test match of the India vs. England series, part of the 2025 India tour of England, was played at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, from July 23 to July 27, 2025. This match was critical as England led the five-match series 2-1, and India aimed to level the series after a narrow 22-run defeat in the 3rd Test at Lord’s. Below is a detailed overview of the match based on available information, focusing on Day 1, as further details for subsequent days are limited in the provided sources.
Match Overview
- Series: India tour of England, 2025 (Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy)
- Venue: Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
- Dates: July 23–27, 2025
- Toss: England won the toss and elected to bowl first.
- Series Context: England led 2-1 after winning the 1st Test (by 5 wickets) and 3rd Test (by 22 runs), while India won the 2nd Test (by 336 runs).
- Day 1 Status: India reached 264/4 in 83 overs at stumps due to bad light.
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Team Line-ups
India (with three changes due to injuries):
- Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj.
- Changes: Sai Sudharsan replaced Karun Nair, Shardul Thakur replaced Nitish Kumar Reddy (ruled out for the series), and Anshul Kamboj debuted, replacing the injured Akash Deep (groin issue). Arshdeep Singh was also ruled out for this Test.
England (one change):
- Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.
- Change: Liam Dawson replaced Shoaib Bashir, who was ruled out for the series due to a finger injury sustained in the 3rd Test.
Day 1 Summary
- Conditions: Overcast with seam-friendly conditions, offering pace, bounce, and some movement. The pitch was described as tricky, not ideal for batting first, making England’s decision to bowl a strategic choice.
- India’s Batting:
- 1st Session (26 overs, 78/0, RR: 3.0): India started strongly with an unbroken 94-run opening stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. England’s bowlers, despite the favorable conditions, went wicketless.
- 2nd Session (26 overs, 71/3, RR: 2.73): England fought back, led by Ben Stokes. KL Rahul (46) was dismissed by Chris Woakes, edging a delivery to depart just short of a fifty. Shubman Gill (12) fell to Stokes, misjudging an in-swinger, and another wicket added pressure, leaving India at 140/3. Sai Sudharsan, replacing Karun Nair, survived an early drop by the wicketkeeper and played cautiously.
- 3rd Session (31 overs, 115/1, RR: 3.7): Sai Sudharsan scored his maiden Test fifty (61 off 51 balls, including a boundary off Joe Root to reach the milestone). He was dismissed by Stokes, top-edging a pull to Brydon Carse at fine leg. Rishabh Pant, aggressive as ever, reached 1000 Test runs in England with a six off Carse but retired hurt after a reverse sweep off Woakes struck his right foot, causing visible swelling and bleeding. He was taken off the field in a golf buggy and later an ambulance, raising concerns about his participation. Ravindra Jadeja (19*) and Shardul Thakur (19*) steadied the innings, guiding India to 264/4 at stumps when bad light halted play.
- Key Performances:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (58): Scored his fifth Test fifty, third fifty-plus score on the tour, playing late and leaving well against Jofra Archer.
- KL Rahul (46): Reached 1000 Test runs in England but missed a fifty, dismissed by Woakes.
- Sai Sudharsan (61): Showed composure at No. 3, stabilizing the innings after early pressure.
- Rishabh Pant (retired hurt): Aggressive, including a six to reach 1000 Test runs in England, but his injury was a setback.
- Ravindra Jadeja (19) and Shardul Thakur (19)**: Unbeaten at stumps, with Jadeja hitting a boundary off Liam Dawson in the final over.
- England’s Bowling:
- Chris Woakes: Standout bowler, dismissing Rahul and injuring Pant with a reverse sweep.
- Ben Stokes: Took Sudharsan’s wicket, leading England’s fightback.
- Jofra Archer: Wicketless but bowled threateningly, troubling Indian batters.
- Liam Dawson (1/45): Introduced spin late in the day, conceding a boundary to Jadeja.
Key Moments
- Pant’s Injury: A major concern for India. Pant, struck on the foot while attempting a reverse sweep off Woakes, suffered swelling and bleeding, leaving the field in pain. His participation in the match remains uncertain pending scan results.
- Bad Light: Play was halted past 6 PM due to fading light, preventing England from taking the new ball, which was available. Umpires likely avoided fast bowlers due to visibility concerns.
- Reviews: England’s review for an lbw against Pant (reverse sweep) confirmed an under-edge, saving him before his injury.
- Day 1 Analysis
- India’s Position: At 264/4, India held a slight edge despite losing Pant. The 94-run opening stand and Sudharsan’s fifty provided stability, but the pitch’s pace and bounce, combined with the new ball available on Day 2, posed challenges.
- England’s Fightback: After a wicketless first session, Stokes and Woakes led a comeback in the second session, reducing India to 140/3. Pant’s injury gave England hope of wrapping up India’s innings quickly on Day 2.
- Sentiment: Opinions varied. Some felt India had the upper hand at 264/4 on a tricky pitch, while others believed honors were shared, with England gaining momentum if Pant couldn’t return.
