The fourth Test match between India and England at Old Trafford in Manchester ended in a draw. However, many are calling it a moral victory for India. England had taken a first-innings lead of more than 300 runs, and India was staring at the possibility of an innings defeat. But brilliant batting from KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja turned the game around and helped India force a draw. The series now moves to the Oval for the final Test.
In the fourth Test, India were bowled out for 358 in their first innings, while England piled up a massive 669 runs. India’s second innings started disastrously, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and B Sai Sudharsan dismissed for ducks, leaving the score at 0/2. After that, the Indian batters showed remarkable resilience. Captain Shubman Gill scored his fourth century of the series, while KL Rahul played an important knock of 90 runs. Together, they put on a 174-run partnership off 417 balls. Later, all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar also scored brilliant centuries to ensure the match ended in a draw.
Interestingly, both Jadeja and Sundar declined England captain Ben Stokes’ offer for an early handshake, as they wanted to complete their centuries first. This did not go down well with Stokes, who appeared visibly annoyed. Ahead of the final Test, the England selectors have made a change, adding Surrey all-rounder Jamie Overton to the squad for the fifth Test starting on 31 July at the Oval.
England Men’s Test Squad for the 5th Test vs India:
- Ben Stokes (Durham) – Captain
- Jofra Archer (Sussex)
- Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
- Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
- Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
- Brydon Carse (Durham)
- Zak Crawley (Kent)
- Liam Dawson (Hampshire)
- Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
- Jamie Overton (Surrey)
- Ollie Pope (Surrey)
- Joe Root (Yorkshire)
- Jamie Smith (Surrey) — Wicketkeeper
- Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)
- Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)