London/Patiala, 14 July (Sports Desk)
The fourth day of the fourth Test match between India and England at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, delivered a gripping contest as India reached 58/4 in their chase of 193, needing 135 more runs with six wickets in hand. England, resuming their second innings at 2/0, were bowled out for 192, with Washington Sundar’s 4/22 leading India’s charge. Despite a strong start, India’s top order crumbled under pressure from Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Ben Stokes, but KL Rahul’s composed 33* kept them in the hunt. With the series tied at 1-1, the stage is set for a thrilling Day 5. Below is a detailed report of Day 4 of the 2025 India tour of England, part of the ICC World Test Championship.
Match Context
The five-match series was level at 1-1, with England winning the first Test at Headingley, India triumphing at Edgbaston, and the third Test at Lord’s ending in a draw. Both teams scored 387 in their first innings, leaving the fourth Test poised for a second-innings shootout. England started Day 4 at 2/0, leading by 2 runs, while India aimed to restrict England’s lead and chase the target on a Lord’s pitch offering variable bounce and occasional seam movement.
England’s Second Innings: Sundar’s Spell, Root-Stokes Resistance
England resumed at 2/0, with Zak Crawley (2*) and an unnamed opener at the crease, aiming to build a substantial lead. India’s bowlers, led by Washington Sundar, struck early and consistently, bowling England out for 192 in 45 overs, setting a target of 193.
Morning Session: India seized control with four wickets before lunch. Mohammed Siraj (2/11) dismissed Crawley (caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully) and Ollie Pope (lbw, via review), leaving England at 50/3. Nitish Kumar Reddy struck with his 10th ball, removing another batsman, while Jasprit Bumrah’s pace accounted for a key wicket. At lunch, England were 98/4, with Joe Root (23*) and Ben Stokes (23*), leading by 98 runs.
Post-Lunch Collapse: Root (40, top-scorer) and Stokes (30) added a 67-run fifth-wicket partnership, but Sundar’s off-spin turned the game. Root was bowled attempting a sweep, and Stokes fell to Sundar’s disciplined off-stump line. Sundar cleaned up Jamie Smith and Shoaib Bashir (both bowled), finishing with 4/22. Bumrah (2 wickets, including Chris Woakes for 10) and Reddy (1 wicket) supported, while Akash Deep and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in. England slumped from 87/4 to 192 all out, with Jofra Archer’s late four off a Bumrah full toss adding minor runs. India’s disciplined bowling kept the target to 193.
India’s Chase: Top-Order Wobble, Rahul’s Resilience
India began their chase of 193 in the afternoon, with 40 overs remaining. England’s bowlers, led by Archer and Carse, exploited the pitch’s uneven bounce, reducing India to 58/4, but KL Rahul’s steady 33* kept hopes alive.
Early Setback: Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) fell first ball, top-edging a hook off Archer to keeper Jamie Smith. KL Rahul and Karun Nair steadied the innings, reaching 40/1, but Carse struck twice, trapping Nair (lbw) and Shubman Gill (6, lbw after a review), leaving India at 45/3. Gill’s dismissal, pitching outside off but hitting the stumps, was a blow, as he had broken Rahul Dravid’s record for most runs in a Test series in England (603*).
Late Drama: With 18 overs left, India sent nightwatchman Akash Deep, a tactical move to protect the middle order. Stokes dismissed Deep (1, bowled) off the final ball of the day, sparking wild celebrations at Lord’s. Rahul (33*, 60 balls) remained composed, surviving a dropped catch by Chris Woakes on 5, and worked a single off Stokes to guide India to 58/4 at stumps. Archer (1 wicket), Carse (2 wickets), and Stokes (1 wicket) led England’s attack, with the pitch’s variable bounce keeping them in the game.
Key Moments of Day 4
Sundar’s Game-Changing Spell: Washington Sundar’s 4/22, including Root and Stokes, dismantled England’s middle order, keeping the target to 193.
Root-Stokes Partnership: The 67-run stand briefly steadied England, but their dismissals swung momentum back to India.
Jaiswal’s Early Exit: Archer’s first-ball dismissal of Jaiswal set a challenging tone for India’s chase.
Carse’s Double Blow: Brydon Carse’s lbw dismissals of Nair and Gill in quick succession revived England’s hopes.
Rahul’s Anchor: KL Rahul’s 33*, surviving a drop and England’s fiery bowling, kept India alive in a tense final hour.
Player Performances
KL Rahul (India): 33*, a composed knock to anchor India’s chase, surviving a drop and England’s pace attack.
Shubman Gill (India): 6, fell lbw to Carse, but his series tally of 603* runs broke Rahul Dravid’s 2002 record.
Washington Sundar (India): 4/22, a match-defining spell, cleaning up Root, Stokes, Smith, and Bashir.
Mohammed Siraj (India): 2/11, dismissed Crawley and Pope early, setting the tone for India’s dominance.
Joe Root (England): 40, top-scored in England’s second innings, but fell to Sundar’s spin.
Ben Stokes (England): 30 and 1 wicket, contributed with bat and ball, dismissing Deep to end the day.
Brydon Carse (England): 2 wickets, removed Nair and Gill, sparking India’s collapse.
Jofra Archer (England): 1 wicket, dismissed Jaiswal first ball, bowling at 150 kph.
Strategic Highlights
India’s bowling strategy relied on Sundar’s spin and Bumrah’s pace to exploit the pitch’s variable bounce, targeting England’s middle order after early seam breakthroughs by Siraj and Reddy. England’s plan to build a lead faltered due to Root and Stokes’ dismissals, limiting their target to 193. In India’s chase, Rahul’s cautious approach countered England’s aggressive seam attack, but the nightwatchman tactic backfired with Deep’s late dismissal. England’s bowlers, led by Carse and Stokes, used the stump line to maximize the pitch’s uneven bounce, keeping the pressure on India’s batsmen.
Pitch and Conditions
The Lord’s pitch offered variable bounce and occasional seam movement, assisting bowlers like Sundar, Bumrah, and Carse. The lush outfield slowed scoring, but batting became easier with a softer ball, as noted by England’s Marcus Trescothick. Clear weather allowed 63 overs (45 in England’s innings, 18 in India’s), with the slope and dry surface adding intrigue. The pitch’s challenges favored disciplined bowling, making 193 a tricky but achievable target.
Statistical Milestones
KL Rahul (India): His 33* added to his series dominance, having scored a century (100) in the first innings, one of only two Indians with multiple Lord’s hundreds (after Dilip Vengsarkar).
Shubman Gill (India): Broke Rahul Dravid’s 2002 record with 603* runs in the series, though his 6 in the chase was a rare failure.
Washington Sundar (India): His 4/22 was a career-best, with all wickets clean bowled, a rare feat at Lord’s.
England’s Collapse: Lost 6/31 either side of tea, one of their worst in recent Tests at Lord’s.
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Looking Ahead
India, at 58/4, need 135 runs on Day 5, with Rahul (33*) and Rishabh Pant to resume. England require six wickets, with Stokes, Archer, and Carse likely to exploit morning conditions. The pitch’s uneven bounce favors bowlers, but India’s 77% win probability at the start of their innings suggests a batting-friendly surface if they survive early spells. A win would give India a 2-1 series lead, while England aim to go 2-1 up ahead of the fifth Test. Lord’s is sold out for Day 5, promising an electric atmosphere.
Scorecard Summary
England 1st Innings: 387 all out (95 overs, Day 1-2)
Joe Root: 100
Ben Stokes: 39
Jasprit Bumrah: 5/74
Chris Woakes: 3 wickets
India 1st Innings: 387 all out (100 overs, Day 2-3)
KL Rahul: 100
Rishabh Pant: 74
Ravindra Jadeja: 72
Chris Woakes: 3/84
England 2nd Innings: 192 all out (45 overs)
Joe Root: 40
Ben Stokes: 30
Washington Sundar: 4/22
Mohammed Siraj: 2/11
India 2nd Innings: 58/4 (18 overs)
KL Rahul: 33*
Shubman Gill: 6
Jofra Archer: 1 wicket
Brydon Carse: 2 wickets
Ben Stokes: 1 wicket
India need: 135 runs to win
