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The fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford ended in a thrilling draw. England remain ahead in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy series 2–1, but India’s strong second-innings fightback has set up a tense match at Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bowl first, expecting early assistance from the pitch. India’s top order, however, handled the challenge with discipline. Sai Sudharsan anchored the innings with a composed half-century, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant added valuable runs to keep the scoreboard moving. Partnerships through the top and middle order helped India reach a competitive total of 358.
England Take Control with Huge First Innings
Their top order performed superbly and built a massive total of 669 runs. Ben Stokes played a brilliant captain’s innings of 141 runs, while Joe Root added another century to his name and scored the highest 150 in the first innings. The Indian bowlers struggled throughout the innings, failing to find consistent breakthroughs. It was the first time in over ten years that India conceded more than 600 runs in a Test match.
Gill’s Century Keeps India Alive
In the second innings, captain Shubman Gill showed why he has been India’s most consistent player in the series. He batted with patience and confidence, scoring his fourth century of the tour. Gill’s composure at the crease steadied the innings and gave India hope. KL Rahul supported him well, scoring 90 runs in an important partnership. Together, they resisted England’s bowling attack and pushed the match toward safety.
On the final day, India’s task was clear. They had to bat the entire day to avoid defeat. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar took responsibility and played outstanding cricket. Jadeja reached an unbeaten 107, while Sundar made an unbeaten 101. Their partnership lasted over 143 overs and completely denied England any chance of victory. It was a performance built on patience, concentration, and resilience.
Stokes’ All-Round Brilliance and Series Situation
A moment of drama came late in the day when Ben Stokes offered a handshake to end the match early as a draw. India refused because Jadeja and Sundar were close to centuries. They both reached their personal milestones before the game concluded. Stokes was named Player of the Match for his century and five wickets in the game. His achievement of crossing 7,000 Test runs and 200 wickets added to his legacy as one of the great all-rounders.
The draw means England still lead the series 2–1 with one match left. The final Test at The Oval will decide the fate of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy. England need only a draw to win the series, while India must win to level it 2–2.
