A tense fourth Test match between England and India ended in a draw, setting the stage for a decisive fifth Test at The Oval. Under the leadership of captain Shubman Gill, India showcased remarkable batting resilience, fighting off potential defeat to keep the series alive. The match, held at Old Trafford in Manchester, saw India accumulating a total of 425-4 over more than five sessions after facing early setbacks in their second innings.
The match highlighted standout performances from Gill and his team, with Gill himself scoring his fourth century of the series, accompanied by unconquered centuries from Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. This tenacity from the Indian batsmen offered little to no support for the home crowd, with England’s hopes of victory significantly dampened.
Despite England’s dominance in the series with a 2-1 lead, the outcome of the final Test match at The Oval, starting on Thursday, will determine the series winner. England must avoid defeat to clinch victory. Shubman Gill commended his team’s performance, emphasizing their grit and the luck that occasionally swayed in their favor.
England’s captain, Ben Stokes, despite being hampered by injury and unable to bowl much, contributed to the fall of KL Rahul, ending a crucial partnership with Gill. However, India’s resilience and strategic batting, particularly from Jadeja and Sundar, shifted the momentum. Jadeja notably reached his 1,000 test runs against England, becoming the third Indian player to achieve this in the series.
Stokes, despite the setback, underscored the mental and physical toll of the series, expressing confidence in his team’s abilities going into the final test match. The outcome remains uncertain, with both teams demonstrating their capacity for resilience and determination.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/7/28/india-vs-england-gill-jadeja-dig-deep-with-bat-to-draw-fourth-test?traffic_source=rss
