India’s incredible draw with England in the 4th Test at Old Trafford is a stunning demonstration of their tenacity and defiance. Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar’s brilliant, undefeated hundreds on the last day caused India to collapse dramatically, securing a result that keeps their hopes in the series alive and sets up an exciting finale.
Final Day Drama: From Despair to Delight
The final day at Old Trafford began on a knife’s edge. With India still trailing, the responsibility fell on the overnight pair of KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. England, hungry for a series-clinching win, came out firing.
Captain Ben Stokes, bowling through the pain barrier, got the crucial first breakthrough, getting a ball to stay low and trap KL Rahul. The pressure mounted, and Shubman Gill, after completing a magnificent fourth century of the series, finally had a lapse in concentration and fell just before lunch. With India six wickets down and still behind England’s total, an English victory seemed inevitable.
But just when England sensed victory, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar staged a rearguard for the ages. The duo absorbed immense pressure, blunted the English attack, and slowly but surely turned the tide. Their partnership was a masterclass in Test match batting, mixing stoic defense with glorious counter-attacking strokes to frustrate the hosts. As the day wore on, they both reached well-deserved centuries, sparking wild celebrations in the Indian dressing room and securing a legendary draw.
The Foundation Laid by Gill and Rahul
This legendary Day 5 escape was only possible because of the foundation laid on a tense Day 4. The situation had looked hopeless for India after they were left reeling at 0-2 in the first over of their second innings, thanks to a stunning two-wicket burst from Chris Woakes.
With their backs against the wall, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul produced a defiant, unbeaten 174-run stand that pushed the match into a final day. Gill, in particular, returned to form at the most crucial moment, showing immense character to keep India in the fight.
A Match Dominated by England Early On
The magnitude of India’s achievement is amplified by England’s first-innings dominance. The hosts had piled on their fifth-highest total in Test history, tightening their grip on the game. Their monumental effort was powered by Joe Root’s majestic 150, an innings that saw him climb to second on the all-time Test run-scorers list, and a much-awaited century from captain Ben Stokes, his first in red-ball cricket since June 2023.
A Moral Victory and a Thrilling Decider
While the scorecard reads ‘Match Drawn,’ this result will feel like a monumental victory for Team India. They were behind the eight-ball for most of the contest but showed incredible spirit to fight back. England, who lead the series 2-1, were denied a win that had seemed within their grasp. The stage is now set for a thrilling series decider.
