The India vs England 4th Test at Old Trafford was a real thriller as it finished a hard-fought draw showcasing the fight from both sides. England had the upper hand for around three days, but India’s inspiring fight back, mostly underpinned by some brilliant batting, meant that they left Manchester with an essential draw to keep the Test series alive.
The Defining Moments of the India vs England 4th Test:
India’s First Innings Resilience (358 all out)
The india vs england 4th test starts by England winning the toss and opting to bowl, Though india was bowled out for 358, there were signs of fight during first innings. Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a fluent 58, Sai Sudharsan scored a solid 61, and Rishabh Pant played a fantastic innings of 54, despite battling through injury due to a fractured toe. Shardul Thakur adding a gritty 41 showed enough fight to help India reach a competitive total. With Pant being injured, the young Dhruv Jurel had to take over the wicketkeeping duties for the rest of the match, something that is difficult enough to do under pressure. Ben Stokes was the chief destroyer for England, with a superb five-wicket haul (5/72), while Jofra Archer chipped in with three wickets.
England’s First Innings Blitz (669 all out)

England quickly put India under pressure, but India managed a respectable 358 in their first innings. However, England’s reply was simply sensational. Led by a magnificent 150 from captain Joe Root and a powerful 141 from Ben Stokes, England piled on a colossal 669 runs, securing a commanding first-innings lead of 311. Contributions also came from Zak Crawley (84), Ben Duckett (94), and Ollie Pope (71). For India, Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers with 4/143, while Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar chipped in with two wickets each.
England’s Bowling in India’s Second Innings
With a big lead, England was aggressive in India’s second innings. Chris Woakes ignited the innings by taking the scalps off both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan for ducks in the first over and left India shocked at 0/2. Meanwhile, the English bowlers including Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes kept the pressure on with the idea of winning the match quickly and without issues. As the pitch flattened out it was become more difficult for England to pick up a wicket despite their best efforts.
India’s Second Innings Fightback Draw (425/4)

Faced with a daunting deficit and a rocky start, India’s second innings was a splendid exhibition of Test match survival, and test match desire. While KL Rahul played a major role with a 90, and Captain Shubman Gill scored a commendable 103 runs, it was the all-rounders who were the true heroic efforts in India’s escape plan. Washington Sundar played a magnificent unbeaten 101, and similarly Ravindra Jadeja’s unbeaten 107, batted out precious time and erased England’s lead as a batting unit. Their monumental partnership meant that India ended up on 425 for 4, and managed to secure a hard-fought draw on the last day of the Old Trafford Test. Chris Woakes (2/67) was England’s center stage in the second innings.
The Unique Angle: A Battle of Wills and “Bazball” in India vs England 4th Test
This India vs England 4th Test illustrated the confrontation between England’s free-scoring, throw caution to the wind “Bazball”, style and India’s hard-nosed approach to playing Test cricket. England’s first innings, in which they scored at a rapid rate and scored quickly , highlighted this. In contrast, India’s fightback in the second innings, highlighted by their resilience after being 0/2, demonstrated their character, and in the real-world sense, patience.
The way the Indian middle and lower order withstood pressure and batted for long periods of time on a wearisome pitch, especially Sundar and Jadeja, on a brief note, was simply a phenomenal effort, showing extraordinary mental toughness.
This draw provides us with an opportunity not only to keep the series going but to remind everyone that although “Bazball” is exhilarating, it does, and will always, reward the resilience and the ability to change your style when the going gets tough in the longest format of the game.
The match scorecard Cricbuzz. Sources.
What was your most memorable moment from this thrilling Old Trafford Test? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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