England faces a challenging task in their pursuit of victory in the fourth Test against India after a resolute performance from the visitors on the fourth day at Old Trafford. India concluded the day at 174-2, trailing by 137 runs, thanks to a significant partnership between KL Rahul and Shubman Gill.
Despite falling into a deep hole at 0-2, Rahul and captain Gill successfully thwarted an England bowling attack that was missing the influential Ben Stokes, who did not bowl throughout the day. Earlier, Stokes celebrated a remarkable return to form by scoring 141 runs, marking his first century in over two years. This performance helped England achieve a total of 669, their third-highest score in a home Test match.
With this century and his 5-72 in India’s first innings, Stokes became only the fourth player in England’s history to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in the same Test. However, India’s innings began precariously when Chris Woakes took two wickets in successive deliveries, leaving them at a troubling 0-2. Yet, the partnership between Rahul and Gill proved crucial, as they calmly built an unbroken stand of 174 runs over nearly 63 overs, with Rahul scoring 87 and Gill adding a solid 78.
England, struggling without the dynamic presence of Stokes, found it difficult to penetrate India’s defenses as the ball began to lose its hardness and the pitch softened. While England remains the favorite to secure a series-clinching victory, India still harbors hopes of salvaging a draw from the match.
This match serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Test cricket, with India displaying resilience in the face of adversity. As the final day looms, both teams remain in the contest, making for an exciting finish.